Sunprint
The short answer
At LCEC's average residential rate of 13.54 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 13 to 17 kW of solar and a $400 bill needs roughly 18 to 23 kW. LCEC is a member-owned cooperative serving parts of Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Broward and Monroe counties.
The part that makes LCEC different is what happens after you go solar. Homes on net metering are moved to a separate rate with a flat energy charge and no tiers, so the kWh you still buy from the grid are billed at a lower price than your top tier was.
What LCEC charges today
This is LCEC's standard residential rate (RS) from its tariff on file with the Florida Public Service Commission. The residential sheet shows an effective date of January 1, 2024.
| Standard residential rate | Amount |
|---|---|
| Customer charge, single phase | $20.00 a month |
| First 500 kWh | 11.29 cents per kWh |
| Next 500 kWh | 12.06 cents per kWh |
| Over 1,000 kWh | 12.82 cents per kWh |
A power cost adjustment is added or subtracted each month to follow LCEC's wholesale power costs, and taxes are extra. Check lcec.net for the current adjustment.
The LCEC net metering rate
When your solar system is approved for net metering, LCEC bills you on its Net Metering Rider instead of the standard rate. LCEC's tariff lists the rider starting on page 27.
| Net Metering Rider, residential | Amount |
|---|---|
| Customer charge, single phase | $22.22 a month |
| Every kWh, no tiers | 8.21 cents per kWh |
Each month LCEC bills only the net difference between the kWh it delivers to you and the kWh your system sends back. To offset your use, the output of your system has to be used on your side of the meter where it is connected.
What that does to a bill, in numbers
Take a home using 2,000 kWh a month. On the standard rate that is about $265, from $20 plus 500 kWh at 11.29 cents, 500 kWh at 12.06 cents and 1,000 kWh at 12.82 cents. Now add a system that covers 85 percent of that use. The net 300 kWh are billed on the rider: $22.22 plus 300 kWh at 8.21 cents, about $47. That is a saving of roughly $218 a month, or about $2,600 a year.
These are before the monthly power cost adjustment and taxes. They show how the rate structure works, not a quote.
LCEC's rate ladder, with and without solar
Energy charges per kWh before adjustments. Homes on the net metering rate also pay a $22.22 monthly charge.
What a monthly LCEC bill needs
System sizes use LCEC's average residential rate of 13.54 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 follow LCEC's 2026 tariff, as in the example above: the standard rate before solar, then the Net Metering Rider, with its $22.22 monthly charge and a flat 8.21 cents per kWh.
| Monthly bill | System size | Savings a year | Bill left each month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 a month | 8.7 to 11.0 kW | $1,770 to $2,060 | $28 to $53 |
| $300 a month | 13.2 to 16.8 kW | $2,770 to $3,220 | $32 to $69 |
| $400 a month | 17.8 to 22.6 kW | $3,780 to $4,380 | $35 to $85 |
| $500 a month | 22.4 to 28.4 kW | $4,790 to $5,540 | $38 to $101 |
Planning figures, not a quote, before taxes and fees. Your own roof, usage and LCEC's power cost adjustment will move them.
How to connect solar to LCEC
- LCEC runs a net metering program with an application and compliance form. The steps depend on your system's interconnection tier, which is based on its size.
- LCEC's tariff says a system that can send power back to the grid may only be connected with LCEC's written approval and a fully executed Standard Interconnection Agreement.
- LCEC uses a bidirectional meter that tracks power in both directions.
- For questions, LCEC Customer Care is at 239-656-2300.
Read LCEC's own net metering guidelines for how system size is measured, and ask your installer which tier your system falls in.
LCEC solar tiers and fees
| Tier | System size | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Up to 10 kW | $35, non-refundable |
| Tier 2 | Over 10 kW to 100 kW | Up to $1,000, non-refundable |
| Tier 3 | Over 100 kW to 1 MW | $1,000, plus a $2,000 study fee if needed |
Many whole-home systems in this area are larger than 10 kW, so ask your installer to include the Tier 2 fee in the quote.
What happens to extra solar credits
Energy your home does not use when it is produced goes to the grid and builds up in a reserve that offsets your future use. Unused reserves left after the December billing are paid to you in January at LCEC's calculated avoided wholesale rate for the prior year. That is a wholesale-type rate, not the retail rate, so a system much bigger than your yearly use earns little on the extra.
Where LCEC rates are heading
LCEC's energy charge moves with a monthly power cost adjustment that passes through wholesale power costs. In our data the average LCEC residential rate rose about 6.7 percent a year from 2020 to 2024, boosted by the natural gas price spike. We cannot see a multi-year rate plan like the one FPL has filed, so long-range figures, ours included, are estimates and not promises.
Which utility do I have?
Your bill names your utility. In Lee and Collier counties some homes are served by LCEC and others by FPL. If your bill says Florida Power & Light, read our guide for FPL customers, or our Southwest Florida guide. To compare every utility we cover, see 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 LCEC?
At LCEC's average residential rate, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 13 to 17 kW of solar and a $400 bill needs roughly 18 to 23 kW. Your own number depends on your usage, your roof and which month your bill is from.
Is solar worth it with LCEC?
It depends on LCEC's structure more than on its average rate. Solar customers pay a flat 8.21 cents per kWh plus a $22.22 monthly charge on the net metering rider, and leftover credits at year end are paid at LCEC's avoided wholesale cost. Get an estimate for your bill, then compare it with each quote. The federal tax credit ended on December 31, 2025, so the price you pay matters more.
Does LCEC offer net metering?
Yes. LCEC has a Net Metering Rider under Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065. Each month it bills only the difference between the kWh it delivers to you and the kWh your system sends back.
How do I apply for LCEC net metering?
LCEC has an application and compliance form, and the steps depend on your system's interconnection tier. You need LCEC's written approval and a signed Standard Interconnection Agreement before the system is connected, and LCEC uses a bidirectional meter. LCEC Customer Care is at 239-656-2300.
What rate do I pay after I install solar?
Homes on net metering move to LCEC's Net Metering Rider. Its residential rate is a $22.22 monthly customer charge plus a flat 8.21 cents per kWh with no tiers, before the monthly power cost adjustment and taxes. That flat rate is lower than the 12.82 cents LCEC charges above 1,000 kWh on the standard rate.
What happens to extra solar credits at LCEC?
Extra kWh build up in your reserve to offset future use. Unused reserves left after the December billing are paid to you in January at LCEC's calculated avoided wholesale rate for the prior year, which is a wholesale-type rate rather than the retail rate.
Is there a fee to connect solar to LCEC?
LCEC's tariff lists a non-refundable application fee of $35 for systems up to 10 kW and up to $1,000 for systems above 10 kW and up to 100 kW.
Is there a minimum bill with solar at LCEC?
The Net Metering Rider says you will never be billed less than the minimum charge, and the residential rider lists a $22.22 monthly customer charge. Taxes and the power cost adjustment are extra.
How do I know if LCEC or FPL serves my home in Lee or Collier County?
Your electric bill names your utility. LCEC serves parts of Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Broward and Monroe counties, and FPL serves other parts of the same area, so do not guess from your address.
Are LCEC rates going up?
LCEC adds a power cost adjustment each month that follows its wholesale power costs. In our data the average LCEC residential rate rose about 6.7 percent a year from 2020 to 2024, boosted by the natural gas price spike. We cannot see a multi-year rate plan, so long-range figures are estimates.
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?
- How people pay for solar in Florida
- Florida solar incentives: what is still available
- Florida net metering explained: why credits vary so much
- How to check a solar company in Florida
Sources: LCEC electric tariff, Volume 3 (PDF) · LCEC net metering program · LCEC rates page · U.S. EIA Form 861 utility data, 2024 and 2025 early release
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