Florida Net Metering in 2026: Why Your Electric Utility Can Change the Value of Solar
Your utility decides what each solar kWh is worth. How FPL, Duke, Tampa Electric, OUC, KUA and SECO credit rooftop solar in 2026.
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Net metering is how your utility pays you for the solar you send back to the grid. In Florida, the answer depends on who your utility is. FPL, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric give full retail credit. OUC, KUA and SECO set their own rules and pay less. Same roof, same panels, very different math.
Quick answer: FPL, Duke and Tampa Electric must follow Florida’s net metering rule: exported solar offsets the power you buy, kWh for kWh, each month, and leftover credit is paid at a low wholesale rate once a year. City and co-op utilities like OUC, KUA and SECO only have to offer a program and set their own credit, which is lower. Nothing in Florida law changed in 2025 or 2026.
How net metering works
Your panels power your home first. Three things can happen to every kWh:
- You use it right away. It never crosses the meter and saves the full retail price.
- You export it. It flows to the grid through a two-way meter and earns whatever credit your utility gives.
- You buy it. At night or on cloudy days you draw from the grid at the retail rate.
The key question for your home: what is one exported kWh worth with your utility, and how long does the credit last?
Florida’s rule for FPL, Duke and Tampa Electric
Investor-owned utilities follow Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065. For home solar it means:
- Exported kWh offset imported kWh at full value each month.
- Extra kWh roll forward for up to 12 months.
- At the end of the year, unused credit is paid at the utility’s average wholesale (as-available) energy rate, a few cents per kWh.
- The utility installs the two-way meter at no extra cost.
- Tier 1 covers systems up to 10 kW AC, which is how utilities measure size. Because we design in DC, that works out to about 11.76 kW of DC panels. With FPL, Duke and Tampa Electric, Tier 1 systems pay no application fee and need no extra insurance.
- You still pay the customer charge and any minimum bill.
The rule has not changed since 2008. The last attempt to cut it, HB 741 in 2022, was vetoed.
City and co-op utilities set their own rules
Florida law requires municipal utilities and electric co-ops to offer net metering, but lets each one set the credit. In Central Florida that looks like this:
| Utility | What an exported kWh earns in 2026 | Leftover credit | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| FPL | Full retail, kWh for kWh | Paid in December at a wholesale rate | FPL guide |
| Duke Energy Florida | Full retail, kWh for kWh | Paid early next year at a wholesale rate | Duke guide |
| Tampa Electric | Retail energy rate | Paid at year end at a wholesale rate | Tampa Electric guide |
| OUC, grandfathered | Near retail until 2045 | Dollar credits roll forward | OUC guide |
| OUC, new since July 2025 | About 5.5¢ from Nov 1, 2026 | Dollar credits roll forward | OUC guide |
| KUA | Wholesale rate plus a small avoided cost credit | Rolls up to 12 months | KUA guide |
| SECO Energy | About 9.5¢ ± monthly adjustment | Dollar credits on the account | SECO guide |
Why lower credits change the design
When exports earn less than retail, the solar your home uses directly is worth more than the solar it sends out. So for OUC, KUA and SECO we:
- Size the system to your daytime use instead of your whole bill.
- Move flexible loads, like pool pumps, laundry and EV charging, into sunny hours.
- Look at a battery to store midday solar for the evening.
With FPL, Duke and Tampa Electric, we size to about 100% of your yearly use, since monthly credits carry your summer.
Will solar erase my bill?
No. Every utility keeps a fixed monthly charge, and some have a minimum bill:
- FPL: $30 minimum base bill.
- Duke Energy Florida: $30 minimum bill.
- Tampa Electric: daily basic service charge, no separate minimum.
- OUC: $18.50 customer charge, plus a planned DemandLevel charge.
- SECO: $1.30 a day customer charge.
Your real savings is the difference between your bill with solar plus any payment, and the bill you would keep paying without it. That is the comparison we show you.
Frequently asked questions
Is net metering available everywhere in Florida?
Every Florida utility must offer a net metering program, but only FPL, Duke, Tampa Electric and FPUC have to give full retail credit.
Did Florida end net metering?
No. The 2022 bill to phase it out was vetoed, and no change passed in 2025 or 2026. OUC changed its own program in 2025, which only affects OUC customers.
What happens to extra credit at the end of the year?
With FPL, Duke and Tampa Electric it is paid at a low wholesale rate. That is why we size to your yearly use.
Do I need a battery?
Only for backup with FPL, Duke or Tampa Electric. With OUC, KUA or SECO a battery can also save money.
Will my panels work in a power outage?
Not by themselves. Grid-tied solar shuts off in an outage unless it is paired with a battery system built for backup.
Sources
Important information
Utility rules and rates change. We checked the facts on this page on October 8, 2026, and we confirm your utility’s current rules before we design your system. Savings and backup time depend on your home and usage and are not guaranteed.