Is Solar Worth It in Florida in 2026?
Florida earns its Sunshine State nickname. Most of the state gets strong, direct sun for much of the year, so a rooftop system here produces more power than the same system would in a cloudy northern state — roughly 1,500–1,550 kWh per installed kilowatt per year in a typical year (NREL data for South Florida). That matters because your power bill also climbs every summer when the air conditioning runs nonstop. High production plus high summer bills is exactly the combination that makes solar pay off.
But 2026 changed the math, and you deserve the honest version. The 30 percent federal tax credit that used to knock thousands off a Florida install ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025. Florida's own perks survived — no sales tax on the equipment, no property tax bump for the value panels add — and net metering is still in place. Solar can still be worth it here, especially on a sunny south-facing roof with a big summer bill. It just pays back in roughly 11 to 15 years now instead of 7 to 11, so the decision deserves real numbers, not a salesperson's slide deck. This page gives you Florida's numbers.
Florida Electricity Prices Keep Climbing
Solar is a bet on future electricity prices: every kilowatt-hour your roof makes is one you don't buy from the utility. So the first question isn't about panels at all — it's about where Florida rates are heading. Here's the last 35 years, from federal EIA data.
Full Florida electricity price data (1990–2025)
| Year | Florida (¢/kWh) | US avg (¢/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| 1991 | 7.9 | 8.0 |
| 1992 | 7.8 | 8.2 |
| 1993 | 8.0 | 8.3 |
| 1994 | 7.8 | 8.4 |
| 1995 | 7.8 | 8.4 |
| 1996 | 8.0 | 8.4 |
| 1997 | 8.1 | 8.4 |
| 1998 | 7.9 | 8.3 |
| 1999 | 7.7 | 8.2 |
| 2000 | 7.8 | 8.2 |
| 2001 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| 2002 | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| 2003 | 8.6 | 8.7 |
| 2004 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| 2005 | 9.6 | 9.5 |
| 2006 | 11.3 | 10.4 |
| 2007 | 11.2 | 10.7 |
| 2008 | 11.7 | 11.3 |
| 2009 | 12.4 | 11.5 |
| 2010 | 11.4 | 11.5 |
| 2011 | 11.5 | 11.7 |
| 2012 | 11.4 | 11.9 |
| 2013 | 11.3 | 12.1 |
| 2014 | 11.9 | 12.5 |
| 2015 | 11.6 | 12.7 |
| 2016 | 11.0 | 12.6 |
| 2017 | 11.6 | 12.9 |
| 2018 | 11.5 | 12.9 |
| 2019 | 11.7 | 13.0 |
| 2020 | 11.3 | 13.2 |
| 2021 | 11.9 | 13.7 |
| 2022 | 13.9 | 15.0 |
| 2023 | 15.2 | 16.0 |
| 2024 | 14.1 | 16.5 |
| 2025 * | 15.2 | 17.3 |
Source: US EIA, average residential retail electricity price. Values in cents per kWh. * 2025 is preliminary.
Two things stand out. First, the long climb: Florida homes paid about 9.6¢ per kWh in 2005 and about 15.2¢ in 2025 — roughly 60 percent more. Second, the jumps come in bursts. The 2022–2023 spike followed natural gas prices, because Florida generates most of its electricity from gas; when gas gets expensive, your bill follows a few months later. Hurricane restoration costs also get baked into rates as "storm surcharges" — Ian and Idalia both left a mark. Nobody can promise the dashed line above, but a state that adds a million residents every few years and runs on gas-fired air conditioning is not a state where electricity gets cheaper.
The Florida Sun, Month by Month
Panels don't care about air temperature — they care about how high the sun climbs and how long it stays up. Florida sits far enough south that even the winter sun stays respectably high, which is why a Florida roof out-produces a same-size roof up north by 20 to 30 percent over a year.
Florida monthly solar production data
| Month | kWh per installed kW |
|---|---|
| Jan | 123 |
| Feb | 124 |
| Mar | 153 |
| Apr | 143 |
| May | 137 |
| Jun | 121 |
| Jul | 132 |
| Aug | 133 |
| Sep | 124 |
| Oct | 129 |
| Nov | 121 |
| Dec | 115 |
| Year | 1555 |
Source: NREL PVWatts typical-year estimate (Miami), per installed kW at latitude tilt.
The practical takeaways: your spring months are the sweet spot — long days, high sun, and fewer of the afternoon thunderstorms that shave summer output. December and January produce the least, but a Florida December still beats a New Jersey April. If your bills peak in August with the AC, net metering lets the strong spring production bank credits you spend later in the year.
What Solar Costs in Florida in 2026
Most residential solar installs in Florida run about $2.50 to $3.50 per watt. The panels themselves are only about a third of that bill — the rest covers the inverter, mounting hardware, labor, permits, and the installer's overhead. With the federal credit gone, the quote you negotiate is very close to the check you write.
| System Size | Typical 2026 Cost | Roughly Offsets | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | $13,500 to $17,500 | ~7,000 kWh/yr (~$88/mo at 15¢) | Smaller home, lower usage |
| 8 kW | $21,000 to $27,000 | ~11,200 kWh/yr (~$140/mo) | Average Florida home |
| 12 kW | $31,000 to $41,000 | ~16,800 kWh/yr (~$210/mo) | Large home, heavy AC use |
Because Florida waives the state sales tax on solar equipment, you save roughly 6 percent up front compared to buying the same gear in a state that taxes it. Prices still vary widely by region, roof complexity, and the age of your home, so always compare the price per watt across at least three quotes.
Estimate Your Florida Payback
The calculator below is already set to Florida's average electricity rate and typical local sun production. Enter your own monthly power bill to see your estimated system size, payback period, and 25-year savings. Florida rates have grown about 2.8 percent a year over the last decade — that's a reasonable starting value for the inflation field, and you can drag it to test optimistic or pessimistic futures.
Florida Solar Incentives That Still Exist in 2026
Let's separate what's gone from what survived.
- Gone — the 30 percent federal credit: The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for installations completed after December 31, 2025, with no phase-out. If an installer's pitch still assumes it, walk away — that's a sign they haven't updated anything else either.
- Still here — Florida sales tax exemption: Solar energy equipment is exempt from Florida sales tax. You pay no state sales tax on the panels, inverter, racking, or other system components — about 6 percent saved up front.
- Still here — Florida property tax exclusion: The value solar adds to your home is excluded from your residential property assessment. Your home is worth more, but your property tax bill does not go up because of the panels. Learn how assessments work in our property taxes and home finances guide.
- Partially — leases and PPAs: Third-party-owned systems can still capture a separate federal business credit through 2027, but it belongs to the leasing company. Sometimes that shows up as a lower monthly lease rate; sometimes it just pads their margin. Compare a lease offer against a cash or loan purchase before assuming it's a deal.
Your local utility may add its own rebate or program on top of these, though they come and go. Ask each installer which current incentives apply to your address and utility.
Net Metering in Florida
Net metering credits you for the extra power your panels send back to the grid on a bright day. When your system makes more than your house needs, the meter effectively runs backward, and you draw on those credits at night or during a cloudy stretch. This is what lets your strong spring production offset your usage across the year.
Florida's investor-owned utilities — FPL, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric — credit exported power at essentially the full retail rate under the state Public Service Commission's net metering rule. This survived a close call: a 2022 bill that would have phased retail-rate credits down passed the legislature and was vetoed by the governor. So the deal stands for now, but it has been targeted once and could be again — one more reason not to count on a 25-year payback. Municipal utilities and electric co-ops set their own terms, so if you're on one of those, confirm the current tariff before you sign a contract.
Hurricanes, Roofs, and Insurance
Florida's building code requires solar mounting to meet strict wind-load standards — among the toughest in the country. A proper install bolts the racking directly into your roof structure and seals every penetration with heavy flashing, so the array is rated to handle high wind. Tell your installer your wind zone and ask how the system is rated.
Solar also touches your insurance — a sensitive subject in Florida. Some insurers treat panels as a normal part of the roof, others want them listed on the policy, and in a market where carriers are already picky, a few may balk entirely. Before you install, call your insurer and confirm how panels change your premium and what wind coverage applies. Our home insurance guide explains how to read your policy.
How to Go Solar in Florida
Work through these steps in order before you commit.
- Pull your last 12 power bills and find your average monthly cost. The higher it is, the more you stand to save.
- Check that your roof faces south, east, or west and is mostly free of shade. North-facing or heavily shaded roofs rarely pay off.
- Confirm your roof has at least 10 to 15 years of life left, or plan to replace it first.
- Get at least three quotes and compare the price per watt, the equipment, and the warranties — and make sure every quote reflects 2026 reality, with no phantom federal credit baked in.
- Confirm current net metering terms with your utility and ask your insurer how panels affect your policy.
- Compare each quote's payback period against how long you plan to stay in the home. At 11 to 15 years, payback now outlasts the average length of homeownership — if you might move in five years, solar should raise your sale price, but that's a softer return than a lower bill.
For the full picture of how panels work, sizing, and buying versus leasing, read our main solar panels guide. It covers the technology and the decision in depth, while this page focuses on what is specific to Florida.
Sources
Figures on this page are 2026-current and come from primary sources. Rates: US EIA, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price (2025 values preliminary). Federal credit repeal: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit and Congressional Research Service IN12611. State exemptions: Florida Statutes §193.624 (property tax) and §212.08 (sales tax). Net metering: Florida PSC Rule 25-6.065. Production estimates: NREL PVWatts. We review these figures every six months.