Sunprint
The short answer
At FPL's average residential rate of 13.71 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 13 to 17 kW of solar and a $400 bill needs roughly 18 to 22 kW. FPL credits the power your system sends to the grid kWh for kWh against your usage during the year, which is how solar can cover most of a bill.
Two FPL details matter here. Its rate is tiered, so the kWh you use above 1,000 a month cost about 2 cents more, and solar removes those first. And even a system that covers nearly all of your use will not take the bill to zero, because FPL charges a minimum base bill.
What FPL charges
Here is FPL's standard residential rate (RS-1) from its January 2026 rate sheet, for FPL's main service area. FPL Northwest Florida is a separate rate area with its own rates, so if that is you, check FPL's site. Add the columns to see what each kWh costs before taxes and fees.
| Charge, cents per kWh | Up to 1,000 kWh | Over 1,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Base energy charge | 7.865 | 8.865 |
| Fuel charge | 2.893 | 3.893 |
| Other clauses combined (conservation, capacity, environmental, storm protection, transition credit) | 1.500 | 1.500 |
| Total per kWh | about 12.26 | about 14.26 |
On top of that there is a base charge of $10.52 a month. FPL also says residential customers whose monthly base electric service costs fall below $30 pay a $30 minimum base bill. Taxes and fees are extra.
Because the second tier costs about 2 cents more, the kWh your solar system offsets first are your most expensive ones. That is one reason big FPL bills respond well to solar.
What a monthly FPL bill needs
System sizes use FPL's average residential rate of 13.71 cents per kWh from federal EIA data, treat the bill as a typical month, and cover 75 to 95 percent of yearly use. Savings and the bill left over use FPL's January 2026 residential rate: the $10.52 base charge, the 2 cents more FPL charges past 1,000 kWh, and the $30 minimum base bill, which is why even a large system leaves about $33 a month.
| Monthly bill | System size | Savings a year | Bill left each month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 a month | 8.6 to 10.8 kW | $1,730 to $2,000 | $33 to $56 |
| $300 a month | 13.1 to 16.6 kW | $2,680 to $3,180 | $35 to $77 |
| $400 a month | 17.6 to 22.3 kW | $3,620 to $4,360 | $36 to $99 |
| $500 a month | 22.1 to 28.0 kW | $4,560 to $5,550 | $38 to $120 |
Treat these as planning figures, not a quote; bills are before taxes and fees. Your own roof, usage and charges will move them. For the same bill at other utilities, see our bill-size guide.
How FPL net metering works
- When your system makes more than your home uses, the extra is credited as kWh, not dollars, and applied to your next bill.
- Credits roll forward from month to month within the calendar year.
- If you still have unused kWh at the December meter read, FPL credits your December bill based on its average annual cost of generating electricity, known as its COG-1 rate. That rate is far below the retail rate you pay, and independent estimates put it around 2 to 3 cents per kWh, so a system much bigger than your usage earns little on the extra.
- FPL says that rate moves with the cost of natural gas, because gas makes up most of its fuel mix.
- Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065 requires investor-owned utilities like FPL to offer net metering. Rules can change, so check FPL's site before you sign anything.
How a year of FPL credits works
January to November: extra kWh roll forward and cover your next bill. December: anything still unused is paid at FPL's low avoided-cost rate, so size the system for your own use.
How to connect solar to FPL: the net metering application
FPL requires you to start its net metering application before you invest in a system. These are the steps from FPL's own FAQ:
- Start a net metering application with FPL first. FPL must pre-approve your system before installation.
- Once FPL approves it and you sign the Net Metering Agreement, you can install the system.
- You or your contractor complete the application requirements for your system's tier and submit them.
- FPL reviews the application and approves it or returns it for corrections. Once approved, FPL installs a meter that measures electricity flowing in both directions.
Ask your installer whether they handle the application and whether it is included in the quote.
FPL solar system size tiers
| Tier | System size (AC) | What else is required |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 to 10 kW | Standard application |
| Tier 2 | Over 10 kW to 100 kW | Application fee, proof of liability insurance (at least $1 million), and a manual disconnect switch beside the meter |
| Tier 3 | Over 100 kW to 2 MW | Application fee and proof of liability insurance (at least $2 million) |
FPL sizes these tiers by AC rating, which it calculates as the DC rating of your panels times 0.85. That puts the top of Tier 1 at about 11.8 kW of panels. A system for a $200 bill usually stays in Tier 1, while a $300 bill and up usually lands in Tier 2. In some cases a transformer upgrade may also be needed for a larger system.
Reading your FPL bill with solar
- Your bill does not show everything your panels made. Power your home uses directly never passes through FPL's meter, so only your inverter shows total production.
- Look for the kWh reserve in the Keep in Mind section of your bill. It is the extra electricity you have banked for later in the year.
- FPL's $30 minimum base bill still applies even if your banked credits would take the bill lower.
Where FPL rates are heading
In November 2025 Florida regulators approved a four-year rate agreement for FPL covering 2026 through 2029. FPL's figures for a typical 1,000 kWh residential bill are $134.14 before the plan, $136.64 in 2026, $143.05 in 2027, $146.24 in 2028 and $148.15 in 2029. That works out to about 2.5 percent a year. In FPL Northwest Florida, FPL puts the typical 1,000 kWh bill at $141.36 in 2026, down from $143.60.
Consumer advocates, including the state Office of Public Counsel, appealed the approval to the Florida Supreme Court after the Public Service Commission declined to reconsider it. The 2026 rates are in effect, and a ruling could affect later years.
Rates after 2029 are not set, and earlier swings were bigger. In our data the average FPL residential rate rose about 7 percent a year from 2020 to 2024, boosted by the natural gas price spike. Any long-range projection, ours included, is an estimate and not a promise.
If your bill jumped recently and you want to know why before you think about solar, our guide to why FPL bills get high walks through the usual causes and how to check yours.
Buying a home that already has solar
If you move into a home with solar already installed, you need to apply for net metering with FPL and sign the interconnection agreement for customer-owned renewable generation. FPL says detailed system information is not needed if the system has not changed. If you add panels, the work has to be inspected and the final permit uploaded.
FPL solar rebates and tax credits
FPL's net metering FAQ answers the rebate question by pointing to the DSIRE database of state and federal programs, and it does not list an FPL solar rebate. The federal solar tax credit, 30 percent for homeowners, ended on December 31, 2025. Our Florida incentives guide lists what is left.
Which utility do I have?
Your bill names your utility. FPL is Florida's largest, but in parts of Lee, Collier and Hendry counties homes are served by Lee County Electric Cooperative instead, which bills solar homes on a different rate. If that could be you, read our guide for LCEC customers, or our Southwest Florida guide. To compare every utility we cover, see solar by utility.
Your estimate in three steps
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Common questions
How much solar do I need with FPL?
At FPL's average residential rate, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 13 to 17 kW of solar and a $400 bill needs roughly 18 to 22 kW. Your own number depends on your usage, your roof and which month your bill is from.
Is solar worth it with FPL?
It can be, especially with a high bill. FPL credits the solar power you send out against your bill month to month, so a system sized to your yearly use offsets most of what you would otherwise buy. What decides it is your bill, your roof and the price you pay. The federal tax credit ended on December 31, 2025, so price matters more now. Use our estimator for yearly savings, then compare it with each quote.
How do I apply for FPL net metering?
Start the application before you buy or install anything, because FPL must pre-approve your system. After approval you sign the Net Metering Agreement and install. You or your installer then complete the requirements for your system's tier, FPL reviews them, and FPL installs a meter that measures power flowing both ways.
How big a solar system can I install with FPL?
Tier 1 is 0 to 10 kW, Tier 2 is over 10 kW up to 100 kW, and Tier 3 is over 100 kW up to 2 MW. FPL measures size as the AC rating, which it calculates as the DC rating of the panels times 0.85, so about 11.8 kW of panels is the top of Tier 1.
Does FPL pay you for excess solar power?
Not in dollars during the year. Extra power is credited as kWh and applied to your next bill. Any kWh still banked at the December meter read earn a credit on your December bill based on FPL's average annual cost of generating electricity, which is far below the retail rate.
Will I still get an FPL bill after I go solar?
Yes. FPL charges a $10.52 monthly base charge, and residential customers whose monthly base electric service costs fall below $30 pay a $30 minimum base bill. FPL says this covers fixed costs like poles, transformers and wires, even for net metering customers with credits banked. Taxes and fees are extra.
Do I need liability insurance for solar with FPL?
Only for larger systems. FPL requires proof of liability insurance for Tier 2 and Tier 3 systems, which means anything above 10 kW AC. Tier 2 needs at least $1 million of coverage.
Can I keep net metering if I buy a home with solar panels?
You need to apply for net metering with FPL and sign the interconnection agreement for customer-owned renewable generation. FPL says detailed system information is not needed if nothing about the system has changed.
Are FPL rates going up?
FPL's approved four-year plan raises the typical 1,000 kWh residential bill from $134.14 to $136.64 in 2026, then to $143.05 in 2027, $146.24 in 2028 and $148.15 in 2029. That is about 2.5 percent a year. Rates after 2029 are not set, and consumer groups have appealed the approval to the Florida Supreme Court, so later years could change.
Does solar keep my power on during an FPL outage?
Not by itself. A standard grid-tied system shuts off when the grid goes down, which is a safety rule that protects line workers. Keeping a home running takes a battery and backup-capable equipment.
Can I join FPL EVolution Home if I have solar?
FPL's net metering FAQ says that at this time net metering customers are not eligible for the FPL EVolution Home program because of equipment compatibility requirements. Check FPL's site for the latest.
How much electricity will a solar system make in Florida?
FPL suggests NREL's PVWatts calculator. As a rule of thumb we use about 1,450 kWh per kW per year, so a 10 kW system makes roughly 14,500 kWh. Our system output guide shows 10, 15 and 20 kW side by side.
Related guides
- How much solar do I need for a $300 to $700 electric bill?
- Why is my FPL bill so high? The real reasons
- How much electricity does a 10, 15 or 20 kW solar system produce?
- How people pay for solar in Florida
- Florida solar incentives: what is still available
- Solar in South Florida
- Florida net metering explained: why credits vary so much
- Solar and an EV charger: does it work with FPL EVolution Home?
Sources: FPL Residential Rates and Clauses, January 2026 (PDF) · FPL net metering FAQ · FPL rate agreement announcement, November 20, 2025 · Florida Record on the appeal, July 2, 2026 · U.S. EIA Form 861 utility data, 2024 and 2025 early release
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