Is Solar Worth It in Florida? (2026)

Florida earns its “Sunshine State” nickname — plenty of sun and big cooling bills make it one of the more solar-friendly states. Here’s the honest breakdown.

The Florida basics

• Sun: excellent — roughly 5.2 peak sun hours/day on average.
• Electricity rate: around 14–15¢/kWh, but heavy year-round air conditioning drives high usage.
• Hurricanes: a reason many Floridians pair solar with a battery for backup, since standard grid-tied solar shuts off in an outage.

See a worked example on our Florida solar cost page or the Solar Savings Calculator.

Net metering in Florida

Florida has generally offered net metering, letting you earn retail-rate credit for exported solar — a big plus for payback. Policies can change, so confirm your utility’s current net metering terms before buying. See what is net metering for why it matters so much.

When solar is worth it in Florida

• High AC bills and a sunny, unshaded roof — the classic Florida profile.
• Your utility still offers favorable net metering.
• You want outage resilience and add a battery (hurricane season).
• You own the system to claim the federal tax credit.

When to be cautious

• Roof shading, age, or an upcoming replacement — fix the roof first.
• Very low current bills.
• Check wind/roof requirements — Florida building codes and insurers may have specific mounting standards.

Bottom line

With strong sun, high cooling loads and net metering, Florida is one of the better states for home solar — especially if you value backup during storms. Confirm your utility’s net metering, then run your numbers with the Solar Savings Calculator.

Educational estimates only. Verify current utility policies and local codes.