## Solar in Florida

Florida ranks 2nd in the nation for residential solar installations — and it’s easy to understand why. With sunshine year-round and electricity prices climbing 26% since 2020, more Florida homeowners are turning to solar to take control of their energy costs.

Whether you’re just starting to explore or ready to move forward, this guide to [home solar panels](/content/solar/solar-panels-for-home/index.html) will walk you through everything you need to know about solar installation in Florida — clearly and without the jargon.

### FLORIDA by the Numbers

[2nd](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/) Most residential solar in the United States  
[251k](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/) Households have installed solar panels  
[5.6](/content/local/peak-sun-hours/index.html) Average daily peak sun hours  
[~$84k](/content/local/florida/#solar-cost-calculator/index.html) Florida average savings over 25 years

## Florida Solar Panel Cost

Wondering what solar actually costs in Florida? Our calculator is built on real installation data from homes across the state — from Tampa and Orlando to Jacksonville and Miami. See your estimated monthly lease payment through Palmetto’s LightReach program (no upfront cost) or explore a cash purchase — side by side, in seconds.

### Lease  vs Cash Purchase

#### System Size  
This system size is designed to offset approximately **100%** of the average electricity usage for a home in Florida.

**Recommended System:** 10.53 kW (Typical for your home size in FL)

- Your Monthly Payment
  - Estimated monthly cost with LightReach: $135/mo
  - As low as: $135/mo

### Why Lease Solar?

Following the 2025 Big Beautiful Bill, the federal 30% solar tax credit is no longer available for cash purchases. With a LightReach lease, Palmetto owns the system and still qualifies for the commercial ITC — passing those savings through to you via lower monthly payments.

- No upfront investment  
- Palmetto handles all maintenance  
- 90% Production Guarantee  
- Comprehensive protection program included

### Cost Breakdown

**Your estimated investment**  
- System Cost: $28,316  
- Cost Per Watt: $2.69/W  
- Final Cost: $28,316

**Savings**  
- Monthly Savings: $192  
- Payback Period: 10.6 years  
- 25-Year Savings: $84,120  
[Get Your Personalized Quote](https://luminance.palmetto.com/home/buy-solar/step-1?utm_source=localorganic)

## Palmetto Reviews

Palmetto Solar has been very good. Their communications leading up to setting an **install date** were better than most companies. **Installation was fast and excellent** and, we now have survived two hurricanes (Florida) with power outages just fine. Their app is straightforward and their support line has real people answering (imagine that). Good experience overall.

### Customer Reviews

- **Alan Light, Palm Coast:** Installation was fast, energy production has been excellent.
- **Josefina Baltazar, Orlando:** Palmetto solar panels produced energy each day, helping to minimize my utility costs.
- **Hermes Sanchez, Lauderhill:** Installation was professional and system is working very well.

## Key Takeaways

- Florida ranks 2nd in the nation for residential solar — and with electricity prices up 26% since 2020, more homeowners are taking control of their energy costs.
- Go solar for as low as $135/month with Palmetto’s LightReach lease — no upfront cost, no maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee.
- Florida offers strong solar incentives, including a full sales tax exemption and a 100% property tax exemption on your system’s added home value.

## Florida Electricity Prices

Florida’s electricity costs have climbed steadily since 2021 — and there’s little sign they’ll ease up anytime soon.

- In 2021, Floridians paid 11.9 cents per kWh. By 2023, that rose to 15.2 cents — nearly a 28% jump in two years.

Solar can help reduce your exposure to those increases. By generating electricity at home, you rely less on the utility grid — so when rates rise, your bill is less affected.

### Price of Energy: Florida vs National Average

| Year | Florida | US Average |
| ---- | ------- | ---------- |
| 2021 | 11.9¢   | 13.7¢      |
| 2022 | 15.0¢   | 14.1¢      |
| 2023 | 15.2¢   | 16.0¢      |
| 2024 | -       | 16.5¢      |
  
## Florida Solar Incentives

Florida homeowners have access to a strong set of [solar incentives in Florida](/content/local/florida/#incentives-table/index.html) — at both the state and local utility level — that can meaningfully reduce the cost of going solar.

| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Florida Solar Sales Tax Exemption | Sales Tax Exemption | Florida exempts solar energy equipment — including panels, inverters, batteries, racking, and installation — from the state’s 6% sales tax. | [Learn More](https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/taxesfees/Pages/sales_tax_incent.aspx) |
| Florida Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exemption | Florida provides a 100% property tax exemption on the added home value from residential solar panels and battery storage systems. |  |
| Florida Net Metering | Net Metering | Florida requires its major investor-owned utilities to credit residential solar customers at the full retail rate for excess energy exported to the grid. | [Learn More](https://www.psc.state.fl.us/) |
| OUC Battery Storage Rebate | Rebate | OUC offers residential customers up to $2,000 for installing a qualifying battery storage system. | [Learn More](https://www.ouc.com/) |
| JEA SolarSmart Solar PV Rebate | Rebate | JEA offers $0.50 per watt for rooftop solar installations, up to $4,000. | [Learn More](https://www.jea.com/) |
| Lakeland Electric Battery Storage Rebate | Rebate | Lakeland offers a 50% rebate on battery storage systems, up to $1,000. | [Learn More](https://www.lakelandelectric.com/) |
| Boynton Beach Energy Edge | Rebate | Residents can get a one-time $1,500 rebate for a solar PV system of at least 5 kW. | [Learn More](https://www.boynton-beach.org/284) |

## Florida Solar Irradiance

Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Florida’s sunshine, long days, and mild winters make it a solar powerhouse.

### About the Data

This map shows average daily solar energy across Florida based on historical data.

- **Excellent solar potential** (≥5.58 kWh/m²/day)  
- **Good solar potential**  
- **Moderate solar potential** (≤4.62 kWh/m²/day)

### What Can the Average Florida Solar System Power?
#### Summer Production (July)
- 42.7 kWh/day 
- Powers: **3.6 average Florida homes**

#### Winter Production (December)
- 34.3 kWh/day 
- Powers: **2 average Florida homes**

#### Annual Production
- 15485 kWh/year  
- Offsets **10 tons** of carbon dioxide emissions

### Solar Installations in Florida

Curious how many of your Florida neighbors have already made the switch to solar? We’ve mapped solar installations across the country — right down to the address level.

## Go Solar with LightReach — No Upfront Cost

For most Florida homeowners, [Palmetto’s LightReach program](/content/products/lightreach/index.html) is the most accessible path to solar today. With LightReach, you pay a simple, fixed monthly lease payment — no upfront cost, no maintenance, and no surprises. Palmetto designs, installs, and maintains the system, backed with a 90% Production Guarantee.

## Frequently Asked Questions

- **Does Florida have net metering?** Yes.
- **Do solar panels increase your home value in Florida?** Yes, but only if you own the system outright. 
- **How much does it cost to go solar in Florida?** As low as $135/month with Palmetto’s LightReach lease.
- **What’s the best solar company in Florida?** Palmetto.
- **What solar incentives are available in Florida?** Strong state-level incentives and local utility rebates.
- **Do solar panels work in Florida’s climate?** Yes, Florida averages **5.6 peak sun hours per day**.