Duke Energy Florida Solar and Net Metering Guide
How Duke Energy Florida credits your solar in 2026, what stays on your bill, and how the yearly payout works.
On this page
Duke Energy Florida follows the state’s net metering rule for investor-owned utilities. Exported solar offsets the power you buy, kWh for kWh, at full retail value. Here is how that shows up on your bill in 2026.
Quick answer: Duke nets your solar kWh for kWh every month and rolls extra kWh forward for up to 12 months. Credits still unused at the end of the year are paid at a much lower wholesale rate early the next year. You still pay Duke’s $30 minimum bill, so we size your system to your yearly use.
How Duke credits your solar
- Solar you use right away lowers what you buy from Duke. It never shows on the meter.
- Solar you export flows through a two-way meter and offsets the kWh you import that month at full retail value.
- Extra kWh carry forward to the next bill, for up to 12 months.
Duke installs the two-way meter at no extra cost, as the state rule requires.
The yearly payout
Kilowatt-hours still unused at the end of the calendar year are cashed out at Duke’s average as-available (wholesale) energy rate. Duke pays this in arrears, in January or February of the next year. The rate is far below what you pay per kWh, so extra production beyond your yearly use earns little.
What you still pay
- A $30 minimum bill. Your customer charge (about $14 a month in 2026) and energy count toward it. If they come to less than $30, Duke bills $30.
- Taxes and fees.
- Any kWh you use beyond what your panels make over the year.
A Duke home that nets close to zero should plan on roughly $30 a month plus taxes. The minimum has been in place since 2022.
Size it from 12 months of usage
Florida’s heaviest months are July through September, when air conditioning runs hardest. Solar production peaks in spring and summer too, but not in the same pattern as your bill. We design from your full 12-month usage history, so banked spring credits carry you through the summer and nothing is wasted at year end.
Interconnection: the steps
- We design the system and submit Duke’s interconnection application.
- Your city or county issues the permit and inspects the installation.
- Duke reviews, sets the two-way meter and gives permission to operate.
Do not turn the system on before Duke gives permission to operate.
| Tier | System size (AC) | Application fee | Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 10 kW or less (about 11.76 kW DC) | None (state rule) | None required |
| Tier 2 | Over 10 kW to 100 kW | Set by Duke’s tariff | Up to $1M liability |
| Tier 3 | Over 100 kW to 2 MW | Set by Duke’s tariff, plus a study | Up to $2M liability |
Almost every home is Tier 1. Utilities size tiers in AC, and we design in DC, so the 10 kW AC limit works out to about 11.76 kW of DC panels.
Batteries with Duke
Because Duke credits exports at full retail each month, a battery adds little to your savings here. Its job is backup power: a standard solar system shuts off in an outage for line worker safety, and a battery with the right equipment keeps your chosen circuits running. As of October 2026, Duke offers no residential battery incentive in Florida. See our Florida solar battery guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Duke Energy Florida offer net metering?
Yes. Duke follows Florida PSC Rule 25-6.065: monthly kWh netting at full retail value, with up to 12 months of rollover.
What happens to my extra credits at the end of the year?
Duke pays them out early the next year at its average wholesale energy rate, which is much lower than retail.
Will my Duke bill go to zero?
No. Duke charges a $30 minimum bill, plus taxes.
Do I need a battery with Duke?
Only if you want backup power. A battery does not add much savings when exports already earn full retail.
Is Sunstorm Energy part of Duke Energy?
No. Sunstorm Energy is an independent Orlando company and is not affiliated with Duke Energy.
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.