Sunprint
The short answer
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) is a member-owned cooperative based in Dade City. Its solar page describes netting your solar over a year. If you generate more than you use over the course of the year, WREC buys the excess at the avoided cost of its wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric Cooperative.
At about 12.3 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 15 to 18 kW of solar to cover most of your use, and a $400 bill needs roughly 20 to 25 kW. WREC does not sell or install systems. It only provides the connection to its grid.
How WREC's net metering works
- The net meter on your home measures the energy you use, like a standard meter, and also records the energy your system sends back to WREC's grid.
- If you generate more than you use over the course of a year, WREC buys the excess at Seminole Electric Cooperative's avoided cost. That is a wholesale rate, so anything beyond your own yearly use is worth much less than power you use yourself.
- WREC's page does not spell out how a monthly surplus shows on your bill, so ask WREC before you size a system on the assumption that monthly credits carry forward.
- WREC does not install or supply PV systems. It only provides the interconnection.
WREC's rule of thumb for sizing
WREC's own guidance, based on the output of a small array it installed in 2009, is to take the kWh on your highest electric bill and divide by 125. For example, a highest bill of 1,250 kWh gives an estimated 10 kW (DC). Sizing to your highest month usually gives a bigger system than sizing to your yearly average, and since WREC nets over a year, a smaller system based on your annual use may be the better fit.
Try WREC's sizing rule
WREC's rule of thumb is your highest monthly kWh divided by 125. It is a starting point, and sizing to your yearly average may fit better.
Rates
Our calculator uses WREC's average residential rate of 12.3 cents per kWh from federal EIA data. See WREC's site for its current rate schedule. Nobody knows future rates yet, and any long-range projection, ours included, is an estimate.
What a monthly WREC bill needs
System sizes use 12.3 cents per kWh and cover 75 to 95 percent of yearly use. Savings and the bill left over use the PSC's December 2025 figures for WREC, including its $39.16 consumer charge, which is also its minimum charge.
| Monthly bill | System size | Savings a year | Bill left each month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 a month | 9.5 to 12.0 kW | $1,450 to $1,830 | $47 to $79 |
| $300 a month | 14.5 to 18.4 kW | $2,360 to $2,980 | $52 to $103 |
| $400 a month | 19.6 to 24.8 kW | $3,270 to $4,120 | $57 to $128 |
| $500 a month | 24.6 to 31.1 kW | $4,170 to $5,260 | $62 to $152 |
Treat these as planning figures, not a quote; bills are before taxes and local fees. Excess over your yearly use is bought back at WREC's wholesale avoided cost, so an oversized system will save less than shown.
How to connect solar to WREC
- Your contractor completes WREC's Application for Operation of a Renewable Generation System, saved as a PDF. It needs your 7-digit account number from your bill, the contractor's license number, the number and wattage of panels, and battery details if any.
- Attach a detailed one-line diagram in PDF, the same kind sent to the county for permitting, plus module and inverter specifications and the signed Net Metering Agreement.
- For systems over 10 kW AC, add proof of $1,000,000 in liability insurance.
- Email the whole package as one multipage PDF to rgs@wrec.net.
- WREC inspects the system and verifies its size, and only then installs the net meter.
WREC's engineering group is at (352) 567-5133 if you have technical questions.
Batteries and the agreement
The co-op says a battery-backed system stores excess energy for use at night or when the panels are not making enough, and adds upfront and maintenance costs. Its application asks how many batteries you have and their wattage, and requires battery equipment to meet IEEE-1547 and UL-1741. The agreement also bars intentional islanding, so a standard grid-tied system shuts off when the grid is down, and WREC may disconnect a system without notice if it threatens life or property.
Rebates and tax credits
As of December 31, 2025, the 30 percent federal homeowner credit is gone. Our Florida incentives guide shows which incentives remain.
Which utility do I have?
Your bill names your utility. WREC is based in Dade City and has a district office in Crystal River. It serves parts of west-central Florida, including parts of Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties, and nearby homes may be on SECO Energy, Duke Energy Florida or TECO. Compare every utility we cover at solar by utility, or read our SECO 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.
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Common questions
How much solar do I need with Withlacoochee River Electric?
At about 12.3 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 15 to 18 kW of solar and a $400 bill needs roughly 20 to 25 kW. WREC's own rule of thumb is to divide your highest monthly kWh by 125 to estimate the DC size in kilowatts.
Is solar worth it with Withlacoochee River Electric?
It can be if you size the system to your yearly use. WREC nets your solar over a year and pays only a wholesale avoided cost for the excess, so extra panels earn little. Ask WREC how a monthly surplus shows on your bill, then compare our estimate with each quote. The federal tax credit ended on December 31, 2025.
What does WREC pay for excess solar power?
WREC's solar page says that if you generate more than you use over the course of a year, it buys the excess at the avoided cost of its wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric Cooperative. That is a wholesale figure, not the retail rate.
Does WREC install solar panels?
No. WREC says it does not install or supply PV systems and only provides the interconnection to its grid. You hire your own licensed contractor.
How do I apply to connect solar to WREC?
Your contractor or you complete WREC's Application for Operation of a Renewable Generation System and email it as a single multipage PDF, with the Net Metering Agreement and supporting documents, to rgs@wrec.net. WREC says handwritten or photographed applications are not accepted and mailing the package slows it down.
What documents does WREC require?
An engineering-quality one-line diagram in PDF, detailed specifications for the modules and inverter, and battery details if you have one. Systems over 10 kW AC also need proof of $1,000,000 in liability insurance.
When does WREC install the net meter?
Only after WREC has inspected the system and verified its size. WREC says it reserves the right to inspect every system for compliance.
How long does the WREC interconnection agreement last?
One year, and it renews automatically for successive one-year periods. The agreement says WREC may terminate service at any time in its sole discretion, and that you may terminate with 30 days' notice.
What if I break the seal on my WREC meter?
WREC assesses a $100 tampering charge if the meter seal is removed by anyone other than WREC personnel. If your contractor or electrician needs access to the meter can, contact your local WREC office to arrange for the seal to be removed.
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 Tampa Bay
- Florida net metering explained: why credits vary so much
- How to check a solar company in Florida
Sources: WREC: solar energy · WREC application and agreement (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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