Florida Solar Battery Guide: Backup Power, Hurricanes and Self-Consumption
What a home battery can run in a Florida outage, how long it lasts, and when it saves money as well as keeping the lights on.
On this page
A battery does two jobs: it keeps your home running when the grid goes down, and with some utilities it saves money by storing midday solar for the evening. Which job matters most to you decides the design.
Quick answer: Solar panels alone shut off when the grid fails. A battery system with the right equipment disconnects your home from the grid, keeps your chosen circuits running and recharges from your panels each day. With FPL, Duke and Tampa Electric a battery is mainly for backup. With OUC, KUA and SECO it can also cut your bill.
Why solar panels shut down during an outage
Grid-tied inverters are required to stop sending power when the grid fails, so they never energize lines that crews are repairing. A backup-ready system adds equipment that senses the outage, separates your home from the grid, runs it from the battery and solar, and reconnects safely when power returns.
Power vs. energy
- Energy (kWh) is the size of the tank: how long the battery can run your loads.
- Power (kW) is how much it can run at once, including the surge to start an air conditioner.
A battery can have plenty of kWh and still be unable to start a large central AC while the oven is on. A good proposal shows both numbers for your home.
Essential circuits or whole home
| Design | What runs | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Essential circuits | Fridge, freezer, lights, Wi-Fi, outlets, fans, garage door, medical devices, sometimes one AC zone | Lower cost and longer runtime |
| Whole home | Most of the house, with smart load management deciding what runs together | More batteries and higher cost, but feels normal |
Air conditioning in a Florida outage
Cooling is usually the biggest question. Whether your AC can run depends on its size and startup surge, the battery’s power rating, how many batteries you have and whether a soft-start device is added. We size this from your actual AC unit, not a guess.
How long will a battery last?
A quick estimate: usable kWh divided by your average backed-up load. A 13.5 kWh battery running a 1 kW essentials load lasts about 13 hours. Add a 4 kW air conditioner and it drops to under 3 hours. In daylight, your panels recharge the battery, so a sunny day after a storm can keep the cycle going for days. Clouds, shade and heavy daytime use shorten that.
Batteries with FPL, Duke and Tampa Electric
These utilities credit exported solar at full retail value each month, so the bill already acts like a free battery. Here a battery is worth it for backup: hurricanes, summer storms, working from home or medical needs. FPL and Tampa Electric do not allow batteries to export to the grid.
Batteries with OUC, KUA and SECO
These utilities credit exports below retail. A battery stores midday solar you would otherwise export cheaply and uses it in the evening, when each kWh is worth the full retail price. That turns the battery into a savings tool as well as backup.
The OUC battery rebate
OUC pays $150 per kWh of capacity, up to $2,000. Taking it moves you to OUC’s lower Community Solar export rate. If your OUC solar is grandfathered at near-retail credit until 2045, the rebate usually costs you more than it pays. See our OUC TruNet guide.
Cost and incentives in 2026
- The 30% federal tax credit for home batteries ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.
- Batteries that are part of a solar energy system are exempt from Florida sales tax.
- A lease or subscription provider can still claim a federal credit on equipment it owns, which can lower your price.
Batteries we install
We install the Tesla Powerwall 3 and Expansion, FranklinWH aPower 2, Enphase IQ Battery and EcoFlow OCEAN Pro. Each fits different homes and backup goals. Compare them on our equipment page.
What a battery proposal should show you
- Which circuits are backed up.
- Usable kWh and continuous kW.
- Whether your air conditioner can run, and which one.
- Estimated runtime with and without sun.
- The reserve setting you will use day to day.
- Warranty years and capacity guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Can one battery run my whole Florida home?
Sometimes, with load management. Large or older AC units often need two batteries or a soft-start device.
Will solar recharge my battery after a hurricane?
Yes, if the panels are undamaged and the sun is out. The battery system keeps the panels working while the grid is down.
Should I buy a battery just to save money?
With FPL, Duke or Tampa Electric, usually not. With OUC, KUA or SECO, the savings can be real. We run the numbers either way.
Can I use a battery and a generator together?
Some systems support a generator input. We confirm compatibility before you buy either.
Will a battery eliminate my utility bill?
No. Customer charges and minimum bills still apply.
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.