Sunprint
The short answer
SECO Energy credits the solar power your system sends to the grid at its wholesale power cost, not at the retail rate you pay. Its tariff sets the credit at 9.5 cents per kWh plus the month's wholesale power cost adjustment. SECO also charges an application fee of $500 to $1,000 to connect.
At about 15.0 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 12 to 15 kW of solar to cover most of your use, and a $400 bill needs roughly 16 to 20 kW. SECO's main office is in Sumterville, and it serves Central Florida.
What a kWh is worth here, in cents
The home figure is SECO's energy charge for the first 1,000 kWh. The export credit moves each month with SECO's wholesale power cost.
How SECO pays for solar
- SECO calls its program net billing. You are charged for the kWh you use from the grid in each billing cycle under your normal rate schedule.
- Excess kWh your system delivers to the grid are credited at the base cost of power, 9.5 cents, plus the month's wholesale power cost adjustment. If the credit is larger than your charges, the balance stays on your account.
- SECO describes members who send power to the grid as small-scale wholesale providers. The credit follows what SECO pays its wholesale supplier, so it changes month to month.
- Credits apply only to the account and meter behind which the system sits, and you still pay the daily customer charge and any other charges on your rate schedule.
- SECO requires an AMI Wi-Fi-enabled bi-directional meter. Its tariff says there is no additional charge for the metering equipment.
Ask your contractor who pays the $500 to $1,000 application fee before you sign.
What SECO charges
SECO's residential rate, from its tariff effective October 2025, is:
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Customer charge | $1.30 per day |
| First 1,000 kWh | 11.94 cents per kWh |
| Over 1,000 kWh | 14.79 cents per kWh |
The energy charges are adjusted each month by SECO's wholesale power cost adjustment, and taxes are extra. SECO also offers an optional time-of-use residential rate with on-peak, off-peak and super off-peak prices, so ask whether it fits your usage. Our calculator uses SECO's average residential rate of 15.0 cents per kWh from federal EIA data.
What a monthly SECO bill needs
System sizes use 15.0 cents per kWh and cover 75 to 95 percent of yearly use. The savings and leftover-bill columns use the PSC's December 2025 figures for SECO, which put its customer charge at $39 a month.
| Monthly bill | System size | Savings a year if you use it all at home | Bill left each month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 a month | 7.8 to 9.9 kW | $1,490 to $1,840 | $46 to $76 |
| $300 a month | 12.0 to 15.2 kW | $2,450 to $3,000 | $50 to $96 |
| $400 a month | 16.1 to 20.4 kW | $3,410 to $4,150 | $54 to $115 |
| $500 a month | 20.3 to 25.7 kW | $4,380 to $5,300 | $58 to $135 |
Treat these as the top end, not a quote; bills are before taxes and local fees. Excess power is credited at 9.5 cents plus that month's power cost adjustment, below what you pay per kWh, so real savings depend on how much you use at home.
Application fees
| System size (AC) | Tier | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| 10 kW or less | Tier 1 | $500 |
| Over 10 kW to 100 kW | Tier 2 | $750 |
| Over 100 kW | Tier 3 | $1,000 |
| Any change to an approved system | Modification | $500 |
The fee has applied to new interconnections since May 1, 2024. SECO bills it to your account after asking your approval, and permission to operate is not issued until it is paid. Contractors often cover the fee, but that arrangement is between you and your contractor, so ask about it before you sign.
How to connect solar to SECO
- Get informed and collect quotes from several licensed contractors. SECO offers free solar assessments to members.
- Your contractor submits the application online. SECO contacts you to confirm the details and get your approval to bill the application fee.
- Permitting and installation generally take 2 to 3 weeks. The contractor coordinates city or county inspections.
- The contractor uploads the final documents and photos, and SECO takes five to seven business days to review them.
- You sign an Interconnection Agreement, and SECO grants permission to operate. SECO says it will notify you within 10 business days once it has the documentation and the manual switch has been demonstrated.
Required documents are a one-line diagram with the disconnect switch within five feet of the meter, system photos, the approved electric permit, and proof of insurance if the system is over 10 kW. Systems over 10 kW AC need $1 million in liability insurance naming SECO as an additional insured. The manual disconnect must be mounted separately from the meter socket and be lockable by SECO. Give SECO at least 10 days' notice before the in-service date.
SECO process at a glance
Size limits
The system's gross power rating, which SECO figures as the DC nameplate capacity times 0.85, cannot exceed 90 percent of your utility distribution service rating. If it does, you pay for the upgrade. Any later change to the system's configuration needs a modification application and its own fee.
Batteries
SECO's Residential Load Management Rider pays battery owners $1 per kW each month based on inverter output, plus $0.30 per kWh for energy used in adjustment events. SECO can call events between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., each up to 4 hours and up to 180 hours a year. The battery must supply 2 to 4 hours of power at 2 to 10 kW and will not discharge below 20 percent. With a wholesale credit for exports, a battery that lets you use more of your own solar is worth a look, so read the full rider.
If you sell your home
SECO's tariff says that when a system passes to a new owner, SECO can decide whether to assign or cancel the existing Interconnection Agreement and can require a new agreement and application.
Rebates and tax credits
The 30 percent federal tax credit for homeowners ended on December 31, 2025. Our Florida incentives guide covers what is still available.
Which utility do I have?
Your bill names your utility. SECO publishes a service territory map on its site, and nearby homes may be on Withlacoochee River Electric, Duke Energy Florida or another utility. Compare every utility we cover at solar by utility, or read our Withlacoochee guide.
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.
See what solar could save you
No site visit, no commitment and no sales call needed to see your number. Your utility is already selected.
Common questions
How much solar do I need with SECO Energy?
At about 15.0 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. Because SECO pays a wholesale rate for excess power, using your solar at home is worth more than exporting it.
Is solar worth it with SECO Energy?
It depends on how much of your solar power you use at home. SECO credits exports at its wholesale cost, 9.5 cents plus a monthly adjustment, and charges a $500 to $1,000 application fee that adds to your cost. Compare our estimate, which is a top end at SECO, with each quote, and ask who pays the fee.
What does SECO Energy pay for solar power sent to the grid?
SECO's tariff credits excess kWh at the base cost of power in its Power Cost Adjustment schedule, 9.5 cents per kWh, plus that month's wholesale power cost adjustment factor. SECO describes this as its wholesale rate, and it changes with SECO's power costs.
How much does it cost to apply for solar at SECO?
SECO charges an interconnection application fee that varies by system size: $500 for Tier 1 (10 kW or less), $750 for Tier 2 (over 10 kW to 100 kW) and $1,000 for Tier 3 (over 100 kW), and $500 for a modification. Permission to operate is not issued until fees are paid. Many contractors cover the fee, but that is between you and your contractor.
How long does the SECO solar process take?
SECO says permitting and installation generally take 2 to 3 weeks, depending on local rules and the contractor. After installation, allow five to seven business days for SECO to review the final documents. You must sign an Interconnection Agreement before SECO grants permission to operate.
What does my SECO system need before it can connect?
A one-line diagram showing the disconnect switch within five feet of the meter, system photos, the approved county, state or city electric permit, and proof of insurance if the system is over 10 kW. SECO also requires an AMI Wi-Fi-enabled bi-directional meter.
How big a system does SECO allow?
The system's gross power rating cannot exceed 90 percent of your utility distribution service rating. SECO figures the rating by multiplying the DC nameplate capacity by 0.85. If it goes over, you pay for the service upgrade.
Does SECO pay members with home batteries?
Yes, through its Residential Load Management Rider. Battery owners can earn a $1 per kW monthly credit based on inverter output, plus $0.30 per kWh for energy used in adjustment events. Events last up to four hours and can total up to 180 hours a year.
What happens to my SECO solar agreement if I sell my home?
SECO's tariff says that when a system passes to a new owner, SECO can decide whether the existing Interconnection Agreement is assigned or canceled, and it may require a new agreement and application.
Is there a free solar assessment from SECO?
Yes. SECO offers free solar assessments for members. It reviews your past usage to help size a system, and you can email Solar@SECOEnergy.com.
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
- Florida net metering explained: why credits vary so much
- How to check a solar company in Florida
Sources: SECO: solar power · SECO: net metering explained · SECO rate tariff, October 2025 (PDF) · Florida PSC comparative rate statistics, December 31, 2025 (PDF) · U.S. EIA Form 861 utility data, 2024 and 2025 early release
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