Sunprint
The short answer
At about 15.5 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 12 to 15 kW of solar and a $400 bill needs roughly 16 to 20 kW. Duke Energy Florida serves about 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile area, and it credits the solar power you send to the grid against your usage through net metering.
The big Duke story this year is that bills came down. Duke says its rates fell three times in 2026, and our calculator now uses a lower rate for Duke than it did before, which means a given bill needs a bigger system than older figures showed.
What Duke charges
Here is Duke's standard residential rate (RS-1) as of June 2026, from Duke's rate insert filed with the Florida Public Service Commission. Add the columns to see what each kWh costs before taxes and fees.
| Charge, cents per kWh | First 1,000 kWh | Over 1,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Energy charge | 9.181 | 9.948 |
| Fuel charge | 3.465 | 4.535 |
| Asset securitization charge | 0.228 | 0.228 |
| Total per kWh | about 12.87 | about 14.71 |
On top of that there is a customer charge of $14.35 a month. The energy charge already includes Duke's conservation, environmental, capacity and storm protection charges, about 1.5 cents per kWh combined. Gross receipts tax, a regulatory fee and local franchise fees and taxes are added to the bill.
Duke's own figure for a typical 1,000 kWh residential bill is $146.89 from June through September 2026, down from $153.19 in May. If yours is running higher than that, our guide to why Duke Energy bills run high explains the 1,000 kWh step and the winter base rate.
How Duke's bills changed in 2026
- February: about $33 lower for a typical 1,000 kWh bill, after Duke ended a storm cost recovery charge for hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton a month early.
- March: about $11 lower, a reduction Duke applies every March through November to help when usage is higher.
- June to September: about $6 lower again, when a true-up of the storm charge flowed back through fuel rates.
Duke puts the total at roughly $50, or 25 percent, below January. For 2027, Duke has asked to lower a typical bill by another $0.71 from December to January, and says it avoided a 2 percent base rate increase through a tax strategy. Both are Duke's statements, and the request still needs regulatory approval. Rates beyond that are not set, so any long-range projection, ours included, is an estimate.
How Duke's typical bill fell in 2026
Duke puts the total at roughly $50, or 25 percent, below January, for a typical 1,000 kWh bill. Duke's 2027 request is still awaiting approval.
What a monthly Duke bill needs
System sizes use about 15.5 cents per kWh, in line with Duke's typical 1,000 kWh bills after the 2026 reductions. They assume a typical month and a system that covers 75 to 95 percent of yearly use. Savings and the bill left over use Duke's June 2026 residential rate, with its $14.35 customer charge and the higher price past 1,000 kWh, and Duke's $30 minimum bill, which is why the leftover bill doesn't drop below $30.
| Monthly bill | System size | Savings a year | Bill left each month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 a month | 7.6 to 9.6 kW | $1,690 to $2,040 | $30 to $59 |
| $300 a month | 11.6 to 14.7 kW | $2,630 to $3,240 | $30 to $81 |
| $400 a month | 15.6 to 19.7 kW | $3,570 to $4,420 | $32 to $103 |
| $500 a month | 19.6 to 24.8 kW | $4,500 to $5,560 | $36 to $125 |
These are planning numbers, not a quote, before taxes and fees. Roof, shading and how you use power will change them. The bill-size guide shows the same bill at other utilities.
How Duke net metering works
- After your system is approved, Duke installs a bidirectional meter that records power in both directions.
- When your system makes more than your home uses, the extra is credited against your next month's usage.
- Under Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065, which requires investor-owned utilities like Duke to offer net metering, credits can accumulate for up to 12 months.
- Credits still unused at the end of the annual cycle are typically settled at a much lower, avoided-cost style rate, so a system much bigger than your usage earns little on the extra.
- Rules can change, so check Duke's site before you sign anything.
Duke solar tiers and how to connect
| Tier | System size | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 10 kW or less | Interconnection request and standard agreement. No application fee, disconnect switch or insurance requirement |
| Tier 2 | Over 10 kW to 100 kW | Application fee, liability insurance of at least $1 million, and access to a disconnect switch |
| Tier 3 | Over 100 kW to 2 MW | Application fee and liability insurance of at least $2 million |
Duke describes its Tier 1 process on its net metering page. Ask your installer which tier your system falls in and whether the size is measured in AC or DC, because a system sized around 12 kW of panels can land on either side of the 10 kW line depending on the inverter.
Your bill with solar
Duke's customer charge of $14.35 a month still applies with solar. Duke describes it as a fixed amount that covers the cost of providing service to your location whether or not electricity is used. Even a system that covers nearly all of your use will not take the bill to zero.
Rebates and tax credits
Homeowners can no longer claim the 30 percent federal tax credit, which ended on December 31, 2025. What remains is covered in our Florida incentives guide.
Which utility do I have?
Your bill names your utility. Duke serves central and north Florida, and its neighbors include Tampa Electric and Florida Power & Light, which bill solar homes differently. Read our TECO guide or FPL guide if that is you, or compare every utility we cover at solar by utility.
Your estimate in three steps
- Enter your billYour ZIP, utility and last month's bill.
- See your estimateA yearly savings range for your home.
- Choose what's nextAsk for a quote call, or just keep the number.
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Common questions
How much solar do I need with Duke Energy Florida?
A $300 monthly bill needs roughly 12 to 15 kW at about 15.5 cents per kWh, and a $400 bill needs roughly 16 to 20 kW. Roof, usage and the month of your bill will shift these numbers.
Is solar worth it with Duke Energy Florida?
It can be for higher bills, but Duke's 2026 rate cuts mean each kWh you offset is worth less than it was in 2025, so use today's rates when you check payback. Duke offers net metering, which credits the extra power you send to the grid. Get your yearly savings from our estimator, then compare it with each quote. The federal tax credit ended on December 31, 2025.
Did Duke Energy Florida rates go down in 2026?
Yes. Duke says its typical residential bill for 1,000 kWh was about $33 lower from February 2026 after a storm charge ended early, about $11 lower from March, and about $6 lower again from June through September. Duke puts the total at roughly $50, or 25 percent, below January.
Will Duke Energy Florida rates change in 2027?
Duke filed a request on September 3, 2026 that would lower a typical 1,000 kWh residential bill by $0.71 from December 2026 to January 2027. The Florida Public Service Commission still has to approve it.
How does Duke Energy Florida net metering work?
Duke installs a bidirectional meter. Power your system sends to the grid is credited against your next month's usage, and under Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065 those credits can build up for up to 12 months. Credits still unused at the end of the annual cycle are typically settled at a much lower rate than retail.
How do I connect solar to Duke Energy Florida?
For systems of 10 kW or less, Duke's Tier 1 process applies. You complete an interconnection request and a standard interconnection agreement, and Duke's Tier 1 process has no application fee, disconnect switch or insurance requirement. Larger systems follow the Tier 2 or Tier 3 process.
Do I need liability insurance for solar with Duke Energy Florida?
Only for larger systems. Florida requires liability insurance for Tier 2 and Tier 3 net metering systems, at least $1 million for Tier 2 and $2 million for Tier 3. Tier 1 systems of 10 kW or less do not need it under Duke's Tier 1 process.
Will I still pay a fixed charge to Duke Energy Florida with solar?
Yes. Duke's residential customer charge is $14.35 a month, and Duke says it applies whether or not you use electricity. Taxes and fees are extra.
Does solar keep my power on during a Duke Energy Florida outage?
Not by itself. When Duke's grid loses power, a standard grid-tied system switches itself off so it cannot send electricity onto lines crews may be repairing. Lights stay on only if you also have a battery and equipment that can run your home separately.
How much electricity will a solar system make in Florida?
Plan on roughly 1,450 kWh per kW per year in Florida. That puts a 10 kW system near 14,500 kWh a year and a 15 kW system near 21,750. Our system output guide compares 10, 15 and 20 kW.
Related guides
- How much solar do I need for a $300 to $700 electric bill?
- How much electricity does a 10, 15 or 20 kW solar system produce?
- Florida solar incentives: what is still available
- Solar in Central Florida
- Solar in Tampa Bay
- Florida net metering explained: why credits vary so much
- Solar and an EV: Duke's off-peak charging credit explained
Sources: Duke rate insert, June 2026, filed with the Florida PSC (PDF) · Duke, May 29, 2026 · Duke, September 3, 2026 · Duke Tier 1 net metering · Florida PSC comparative rate statistics, December 31, 2025 (PDF)
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