Solar Calculator Florida 2026

Why Florida Solar Still Pencils Out in 2026

Florida delivers about 5.0 to 5.4 peak sun hours per day — call it 5.2 kWh per kW daily as a planning number — against residential rates averaging roughly 14 to 15 cents per kWh, with FPL, Duke, and TECO all pushing rate cases upward. The state's real advantage, though, is billing: under FPSC Rule 25-6.065, investor-owned utilities must offer net metering that credits exported kWh at the full retail rate, rolling surpluses forward month to month. A 2022 bill to phase this out was vetoed, and full-retail crediting remains in effect in 2026 — but the policy debate resurfaces periodically, so verify current tariff terms with your utility before you sign. Start with the USA solar calculator to frame your baseline.

Florida's Incentive Stack (and the Federal Gap)

Florida has no state income tax, so there is no state tax credit — but two exemptions matter:

• A 100% property tax abatement on the value residential solar adds to your home.
• A 6% sales tax exemption on solar equipment, saving over $1,000 on a typical system.

On the federal side, be honest with your math: the 30% residential credit (Section 25D) ended for owned systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Cash and loan buyers in 2026 get no federal credit. Leases and PPAs are the workaround — the provider can claim the commercial 48E credit (expected through roughly 2027) and may pass most of that value through in pricing, so compare ownership against third-party offers carefully in the solar savings calculator.

Hurricanes, Wind Ratings, and Permitting

Florida installs must meet some of the strictest wind-load requirements in the nation. The Florida Building Code requires engineered attachments rated for local design wind speeds — up to 170-plus mph in the Miami-Dade and Broward High-Velocity Hurricane Zone — and insurers may ask for the engineering letter. Budget for this in quotes, and note that grid-tied systems without storage shut off during outages. If storm resilience is your goal, size backup with the battery bank calculator or weigh a standby generator in the generator vs battery calculator.

A Worked Florida Example

An 8 kW system at $2.70 per watt runs about $21,600 — with no sales tax on the equipment and no property tax hit. At 5.2 sun hours it generates near 15,200 kWh per year, and because net metering credits every exported kWh at retail, nearly all of it offsets 14.5-cent power: about $2,200 in first-year savings and a payback around 9 to 10 years, improving as rates rise. Compare module and inverter options in the panel comparison calculator before requesting quotes.

Solar calculators for other US states

Localized rates, net-metering and incentive context for more states — or use the national USA solar calculator (all 50 states + DC selectable).

Frequently asked questions

Yes. FPSC Rule 25-6.065 requires investor-owned utilities like FPL, Duke, and TECO to credit exported energy at the full retail rate, with monthly rollover and annual settlement of any surplus at avoided cost. A phase-out bill was vetoed in 2022, but the debate could return, so confirm your utility's current interconnection tariff before signing a contract.

Not for purchased systems. The 30% Section 25D residential credit ended for owned systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Lease and PPA customers can still capture roughly similar value indirectly, because the solar provider claims the commercial 48E credit through about 2027 and typically prices that into the agreement.

Florida has no state income tax credit, but it exempts residential solar from the 6% sales tax and provides a 100% property tax abatement on the home value the system adds. Combined with full-retail net metering, these exemptions do most of the heavy lifting now that the federal residential credit is gone for buyers.

Modern systems installed to the Florida Building Code use engineered mounts rated for local design wind speeds — 170-plus mph in the Miami-Dade and Broward High-Velocity Hurricane Zone — and generally perform well in storms. However, a standard grid-tied system shuts down during an outage for line-worker safety; you need battery storage with islanding capability to keep power on.