KUA Solar in 2026: Why Daytime Use and System Design Matter
How Kissimmee Utility Authority credits your solar in 2026, who is grandfathered, and why KUA systems are designed around daytime use.
On this page
KUA is a city-owned utility, so it sets its own solar rules. It does offer net metering, but exported solar earns a wholesale rate, not the retail price you pay. That makes solar your home uses directly far more valuable than solar it sends to the grid.
Quick answer: KUA credits exported solar at its power supplier’s wholesale energy rate, updated every quarter, plus a small avoided cost credit. Every kWh you buy is billed at the full retail rate. So a KUA system should be sized to your daytime use, not your whole bill. KUA charges no extra monthly fee for solar.
How KUA credits your solar
- Solar you use right away saves the full retail price of each kWh.
- Solar you export is credited at the Quarterly Energy Rate from the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), KUA’s power supplier. It resets January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1. It is a wholesale rate, a few cents per kWh.
- Systems approved after May 31, 2023 also earn KUA’s avoided cost credit on each exported kWh.
- Unused credits carry forward for up to 12 months and are paid when you close the account.
KUA does not publish the cents per kWh figure, so we pull the current quarter’s rate when we model your home.
Grandfathered KUA systems
Systems in service, or with a complete application and active permit, by May 31, 2023 get a demand credit at KUA’s wholesale demand rate instead. That ends at the earlier of a change in ownership or October 31, 2028.
Design for daytime use
Because exports earn a wholesale rate, the best KUA system covers what your home uses while the sun is up:
- Run the pool pump, laundry, dishwasher and EV charging during sunny hours.
- Pre-cool the house in the afternoon.
- Avoid extra panels that would mostly export.
- Consider a battery to move midday solar into the evening.
Interconnection fees and steps
| Tier | System size (AC) | KUA fee | Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 10 kW or less (about 11.76 kW DC) | None | $100,000 encouraged |
| Tier 2 | Over 10 kW to 100 kW | $320 | $1M required |
| Tier 3 | Over 100 kW to 2 MW | $470 plus a $2,500 study deposit | $2M required |
Utilities size tiers in AC, and we design in DC, so the 10 kW AC Tier 1 limit works out to about 11.76 kW of DC panels. We submit KUA’s signed application with your permit. KUA acknowledges it in about 5 business days, approves within 30 days, and gives permission to operate within about 10 business days after inspection.
Batteries with KUA
KUA has no battery rebate. A battery still does more here than with FPL or Duke, because it stores midday solar you would otherwise export at a wholesale rate and uses it in the evening at retail value. It also keeps your essentials running in an outage. See our Florida solar battery guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does KUA have net metering?
Yes, but exported solar is credited at a wholesale rate, not the retail rate.
Do my KUA credits expire each month?
No. Unused credits carry forward for up to 12 months.
Does KUA charge a monthly fee for solar?
No. KUA says solar customers pay no additional monthly charges.
Is a battery worth more with KUA than with FPL?
Usually yes, because it turns low-value exports into evening use at retail value. The math still depends on your home.
Is Sunstorm Energy part of KUA?
No. Sunstorm Energy is an independent Orlando company and is not affiliated with KUA.
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.