The Florida solar field guide
Learn about solar and batteries in Florida
Plain answers to questions Florida homeowners ask about solar and batteries, each with links to its sources.
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Your bill
Make sense of your electric bill.
A few details on your bill help start a more useful conversation.
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Backup power
What happens when the grid goes down?
Panels alone do not keep the power on in an outage. What a backup system can do depends on system design.
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Your home
A good plan starts with the roof.
Condition, shade and available roof space belong in the conversation before any system proposal.
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Before you decide
Know who you're working with.
Understand the company, contractor and proposal before making a decision.
Your power company and solar
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How Florida electric companies handle home solar
How FPL, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric credit home solar under PSC Rule 25-6.065: monthly netting, the year-end payout and the size tiers.
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How FPL handles home solar (net metering)
How Florida Power & Light net metering works for home solar: monthly kWh credits, the December true-up, the minimum base bill, and FPL's connection tiers.
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How Duke Energy Florida handles home solar (net metering)
How Duke Energy Florida bills homes with solar: monthly kWh credits, the February true-up, its minimum bill, and the three interconnection tiers.
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How Tampa Electric (TECO) handles home solar (net metering)
How Tampa Electric credits home solar under its NM-1 net metering schedule: monthly kWh credits, the year-end payout, the daily charge and how to connect.
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How OUC (Orlando Utilities Commission) handles home solar
OUC credits rooftop solar under its own TruNet Solar rules: credit rates by application date, the November 2026 billing change, fees and how to connect.
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How to read the kWh usage on your electric bill
Find the kWh figure on an FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO or OUC bill: meter readings, billing days, the usage chart, and why 12 months matters.
Outages and batteries
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Will solar keep my power on in a hurricane outage?
Grid-tied solar shuts off when the grid goes down; what a backup battery can do depends on system design. Plus generator safety and storm prep.
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How long can a battery run my home?
How long a home battery runs in an outage depends on system design: its kWh and kW, what it powers, AC use, sunshine and settings. How to estimate.
Before you decide
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Can My Florida HOA Stop Me From Going Solar?
Florida Statute 163.04 says HOA covenants can't ban solar panels or refuse permission, but your HOA may pick a south-facing roof spot. What it means.
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Should I replace my roof before going solar?
Roof age and condition matter for rooftop solar in Florida: what to check first, what happens if the roof needs work later, and what to ask.
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How to Spot Solar Sales Scams in Florida
Solar sales red flags, from no-cost panel offers to sign-today pressure, and how Florida homeowners can check a contractor license and report a scam.
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