Florida is one of the best places to go solar in the nation. In fact, it was ranked #3 by SEIA for solar in the entire nation (1). With an average of over 220 days of sunshine each year and a few cities in Florida seeing over 65% of sunshine, it’s easy to see why they call it the Sunshine State (2). It only makes sense to make use of all that solar power potential. If you’re a homeowner in Florida, turn that sunshine into power for your home when you get a solar system installed. Let’s go over some of the Florida solar incentives that make switching to solar energy easier when you live in the Sunshine State.
Does Florida have solar incentives?
Yes! If you live in the state of Florida, there are plenty of reasons to go solar. One of them being the incentives available to you for switching to clean renewable energy. Let’s go through all of them, but first, here is a quick overview of the best solar incentives available to residents of Florida.
| Florida Solar Incentive | Benefit |
| Federal Solar Tax Credit | Starting in 2022, the government gives 30% in federal tax credits to those homeowners who switch to solar power. |
| Florida Net Metering Programs | Homeowners can receive credits on their electric bill when their solar system produces more energy than they use. |
| Florida Property Tax Exemption | Your property tax will not go up when you add on a solar system to your home. |
| Florida Sales Tax Exemption | The state of Florida does not charge sales tax on the purchase of a solar system and other renewable energy equipment. |
Florida Solar Tax Credits, Rebates, Incentives and Savings
Now let’s go through all the solar incentives that may be available to you as a homeowner in Florida. Note that not all of these incentives are available and are dependent on where you live, your utility provider, and other factors. The only way to know for sure is to speak with a trained Solar Energy Specialist to understand your unique situation and to find out how going solar can work for you and your home energy goals. Interested in what to expect during your initial solar sales consultant? Read more. And now, we present a comprehensive list of solar incentives in Florida! Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Federal Solar Tax Credit
- Florida Net Metering
- Florida Property Tax Exemption
- Florida Sales Tax Exemption
- Duke Energy Florida Solar Incentives
- Florida Power and Light Solar Incentives
- Florida Solar Rights Act
- Florida PACE Loans
- Florida Utility Rebates
Ah, the Sunshine State. Lots of warm sunshine, gorgeous beaches, and… high energy costs? Florida residents who are tired of paying high energy costs in the Sunshine State often wonder if solar panels are worth the investment. Today, we’re going over the top 9 reasons why solar panels are worth it in Florida. Are Solar…
Federal Solar Tax Credit for Florida Residents
The best solar incentive for Florida homeowners, or anywhere in the nation, is the Federal Solar Tax Credit. This tax credit can be applied to your federal taxes and offers 30% of your solar system purchase including solar battery backup. This tax credit can be rolled over to the next year as well if you don’t use it all.* To learn more about the Federal Solar tax credit, read our guide.
READ OUR GUIDEFlorida Net Metering
Net metering is a program in which you can get credits back from your utility company for your unused solar energy. Each month you send solar energy back to the grid, you get credits on your electric bill. Net metering is available in the state of Florida for homeowners who go solar.
READ OUR GUIDEFlorida Solar Property Tax Exemption
Getting solar panels installed on your home in Florida means your home’s value goes up. In fact, research done by Zillow showed that homes on average go up in value by around 4% in Florida by having solar panels installed. Not only that, but the time your home spends on the market goes down significantly with solar energy. But what about the extra taxes on your home when the value increases? Not to worry about that in Florida since solar energy equipment is property tax exempt. That means you won’t pay the extra property tax when you go solar in Florida.
Florida Solar Sales Tax Exemption
More good news for Florida residents: solar panels and associated equipment, including solar batteries are sales tax exempt. In other words, your purchase of a solar system will not incur the additional Florida state sales tax of 6%. Depending on your system, this could save you hundreds.
Duke Energy Florida Solar Incentives
Duke Energy offers their Florida customers who switch to solar energy net metering at 1 to 1. This means that you will receive the same amount credit for sending solar energy to the grid as you purchase it. The current Florida rate is approximately $0.13 per kilowatt.
Florida Power and Light Solar Incentives
Florida Power and Light (FPL) offers their Florida customers who switch to solar energy net metering of 1 to 1 as well. This means that if you’re a customer of FPL, you can receive a credit on your monthly electric bill for your unused solar energy at approximately $0.13 per kilowatt.
If you have a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) where you live, you may be concerned they will deny your request to install solar panels. Fortunately, Florida Law forbids HOAs from denying homeowners their right to install solar energy systems in their homes. In other words, if you want to install solar panels in your Florida home, your HOA cannot deny you that right so long as your installation request follows your HOA’s home improvement guidelines.
FLORIDA STATE SOLAR REBATES AND PROGRAMS
The following solar rebates and programs are available depending on where you live as well as other eligibility factors. It is best to speak to a qualified Solar Energy Specialist about additional solar incentives available to you in Florida.
Orlando Utilities Commission – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
If you live in Orlando, you could be eligible for a $2,000 rebate for having solar and solar battery (8kW) installed on your home. Talk to a solar energy specialist and read the OUC website for details and eligibility factors.
Learn MoreJacksonville Electric Authority – Solar Battery Incentive Program
If you live in Jacksonville, you could be eligible for a $4,000 rebate per home/business on the purchase of a qualified battery storage system. Talk to a solar energy specialist and read the JEA website for details and eligibility factors.
Learn MoreFlorida Solar Panel Incentives: How They Can Benefit You
If you’ve been considering going solar, you could be eligible for incentives that could help make the decision easier. The best way to know if solar panel incentives are available to you and which ones you can take advantage of, is to speak to a qualified solar energy specialist. Wondering what a consultation for going solar will be like? Read the blog on what to expect at your initial consultation then get yours scheduled.
You may be wondering what happens when an ADT Solar Energy Specialist visits your home. If you’ve been considering solar, we understand you may want to know what to expect before booking your free consultation. This is why we created this handy guide of what to expect at your solar consultation. First things first: we…
*Tax and credits or incentives including those provided by federal, state, or local governments may change or end. This can impact the amount of money you might save. Consult a tax professional to understand any tax liability or eligibility for any tax credits that may result from the purchase of your solar system.
If you have taxable income and own the system, you may qualify for the federal investment tax credit (ITC). It is your responsibility to determine your eligibility and to apply. Consult a qualified tax professional for assistance and details.
- https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/florida-solar
- https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Florida/annual-days-of-sunshine.php