If you’re sitting in Miami or somewhere close and you don’t know whether or not you need a solar system, our advice — go for it! Solar panels pay off in spades in Florida. If high upfront costs are what scares you, here is an article about Florida solar incentives and programs that make the switch so much easier.
Key takeaways
5.6
average number of peak sun hours in Florida
At first glance, Florida might not appear as a nice place for setting up a solar installation. The state gets only about 100 clear days a year on average. Miami is in the Top-10 American cities with the most days with partial cloud cover.
The benefits of going solar in Florida shine through when you look closer. The state gets 5.6 peak sun hours a day on average throughout the year. In summer solar panels work at full capacity for more than 6 hours a day. A 7 kilowatt solar system is going to produce over 30 kWh of AC for your house in June. That’s more than enough to cover the average daily needs of a medium-sized house.
Florida is affected by a tropical storm or hurricane every 3-5 years
Florida is notorious for hurricanes. Solar panels don’t see them as a threat though. Most panels are made to endure at least 140 mph winds. Add batteries and a hybrid inverter to your system, and your house will retain power even when power lines are down.
What’s most important, electricity is expensive in Florida. Florida residents spend around $230 per month on electricity. That’s 40% higher than the US average electric bill of $150. Having a solar system that fully covers your consumption would bring you around $2,500 per year. This PV installation would pay for itself in 4-6 years. The ROI is higher if you make use of Florida solar energy programs.
There is a reason why A1SolarStore headquarters are located in Miami. There is lots of sunlight, electric rates are high, and you want an energy backup when a storm comes to visit. All this makes PV systems attractive for Floridians.
The smart way of going solar is making use of incentives and programs that the state and utilities have to offer. Let’s go over the most important ones in detail.
Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the king of American solar incentives. You can deduct 30% of your PV system’s cost from your income taxes. The cost includes not only solar panels but other equipment plus and shipping and installation expenses. For example, if your system costs $15,000, you can get $5,000 back through a tax deduction. Unused credit carries over to the next year.
Solar equipment is free from 6% sales and use tax for residents. Solar panels, inverters, charge controllers, batteries and addons have to play an integral role in your PV system though. This incentive was made permanent in 2005.
The equipment must be certified by Florida Solar Energy Center. Complete this form to qualify for the exemption or email us at solar@a1solarstore.com upon checking out.
4%
that’s how much solar panels increase your home value on average
Solar panels increase the value of your home by 4% on average. This would mean higher property taxes in other states but not in Florida. Florida provides a 100% property tax exemption for home solar systems and an 80% tax abatement for non-residential PV installations. This incentive is to expire on December 31, 2037
Some local governments in Florida offer Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs. They let property owners borrow money to pay for energy improvements, such as a solar system. You repay the loan with an interest rate that is lower than average — for example, 7-7.5%.
10.82%
average personal loan interest rate in 2023
Contact your local government to learn if PACE is available to you. You can apply through the Florida PACE Funding Agency website.
Florida utility customers are usually compensated at a full retail rate for their excess solar energy. Credits that you earn for excess generation are carried forward at a retail rate to the next bill for up to 12 months. At the end of this period, the utility pays the customer for any remaining NEG at the utility's avoided cost rate.
Net metering — a policy designed to compensate homeowners for excess solar energy that they generated and sent into the grid
The net metering policy narrowly escaped its demise in 2022. Both houses of the Florida legislature passed a bill that would deny net metering credits for utility customers with solar systems launched in 2024 and later. Governor DeSantis vetoed the bill but this case might be a sign of things to come. If you want to go solar, act fast and secure a good deal in 2023.
American utilities can offer rebates to customers that switch to solar. This makes the purchase of a system easier. Florida utilities mostly provide rebates for those who use solar water heating technology. Thermal panels are different from photovoltaic solar panels and rebates for one type don’t apply to the other. You can learn more about two types in our article about solar panels for pools.
Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask your utility if they offer any kind of rebates for photovoltaic solar panels. If they do, you might save a couple of hundred dollars on the purchase.
Florida law states that homeowner associations can’t prohibit the installation of a solar system. If your HOA imposes any restrictions, they must be reasonable, not arbitrary, and applied for all association members. Those restrictions must not affect the performance or increase the cost of a solar system.
The law allows for the creation of easements which are agreements between neighbors in written form about keeping a solar system exposed to sunlight. For example, an easement means that your neighbor has to cut trees on his land if they grow tall enough to cast a shadow on your panels. Solar easements are voluntary and tied to the property. If your neighbor sells his house, the original easement agreement will retain force.
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Looking to build a home solar system? Check out solar panels that we have for sale in Florida
Andrey had been a news editor and freelance writer for a number of medias before joining A1 SolarStore team. Climate change and its impact on people's lives has always been among his interests and it partially explains his degree in Philosophy and Ethics.
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