Florida Power & Light Solar Program Overview
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is one of the larger energy companies in the US and has been around for 95 years. The largest subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., it provides service to about 10 million people in Florida. FPL generates electricity through natural gas, nuclear, coal and solar energy sources.
FPL supports many solar customers (and more every day!) who are connected to the energy grid. Customers can also purchase clean electricity exclusively generated by solar when they enroll in the FPL SolarNow plan. In the long run, installing your own home solar system is a less costly option, especially when you take advantage of existing solar rebates and incentives from the state and federal governments.
How the FPL Solar Program Works
Solar energy generated from your own solar panel system can be used to power your home, store energy in a home battery, or sell the power back to the electricity grid. To power your home, you need a solar system and sunlight. To store energy for future use (like at night), you need a special home battery. To sell power back to the grid, you need a two-way system and a meter that is hooked up to the utility grid. These function together to send energy back to the grid and offset your electric bill, a program which is called net metering, Net Energy Metering or NEM.
FPL offers net metering almost everywhere. There is an online tool for checking the validity of your location, and EnergyPal can help you determine if your home is applicable. The energy you sell back to FPL is purchased at the same rate you pay for it. This amount you sell back to FPL lowers your bill. It becomes a credit and goes against the cost of retail electricity you use when you cannot supply yourself with enough solar energy.
At the end of the year, if your credits for producing surplus solar energy from your panels exceed what you were charged for consumed energy, then FPL compensates you at wholesale rates, and that amount goes towards your January bill. However, credits do not apply to monthly basic infrastructure charges. Overall, you can offset your electric bill to near zero! EnergyPal will help you size and configure your solar and home battery system appropriately to ensure you maximize your financial savings and energy independence.
Becoming a FPL Solar Customer
In addition to reducing fossil fuel consumption and diminishing your carbon footprint, you can reduce your monthly FPL bill, improve the resale value of your home and avoid power loss during outages with your own solar (or solar-battery) system. EnergyPal will help you follow these steps:
- Download your FPL bill information on your annual usage.
- Assess the solar potential for your home, and analyze your roof.
- Compare quotes for solar panel systems and finance options.
- Prepare the interconnection application, and sign documentation.
- Install your solar system using qualified workers.
- Pass inspection with local inspectors and FPL.
- FPL will install a new meter so you can get credit for generating your own power!
Upfront FPL Solar Incentives
There are multiple local incentive programs available to reduce the upfront costs associated with solar system installations in Florida. Check with your city or county. The only state program is the sales tax incentive. Florida residents do not have to pay sales tax on solar systems.
EnergyPal is available to help you navigate FPL bills and the FPL solar program requirements and steps for installing solar. Start by requesting a quote, and we’ll help you through the whole process so you get the right system at the right price and offset your FPL electric bill.