Updated / FL residential estimate
Florida solar panel cost calculator
Estimate system size, panel count, gross cost, annual production, and savings using defaults for Florida. Enter an address or ZIP Code below to replace them with live location data.
Warm climate and cooling load can make offset valuable; hurricane exposure and roof age deserve extra review.
State data baseline
- Planning sun hours
- 4.8 hours/dayState planning default used when API data is unavailable.
- PVWatts annual yield
- 1,435 kWhPer 1 kW system at 20% loss. Solar resource: 5.63 kWh/m²/day; 16.4% capacity factor.
- EIA residential rate
- $0.1510/kWhLatest state average: 2026-06.
- API baseline location
- Orlando, FL 32801, USA28.5417, -81.3757
Server-side API snapshot, refreshed monthly. All three providers returned external data.Data sources and update notes
Decision brief
What changes the decision in Florida
These state-specific checks are not included in a generic national quote. Resolve them before comparing payback claims. Supporting rules and official references are collected at the end of this page.
- 01Before you sign
Confirm annual excess-credit treatment
Florida net metering offsets on-site consumption, but year-end excess treatment and interconnection details belong to the serving utility tariff. Ask for the exact written schedule.
- 02Before you sign
Document roof condition and wind design
Florida roof provisions address wind resistance for rooftop photovoltaic systems. A calculator cannot determine the roof's remaining life, load path, or fastening design; put those responsibilities in the contract.
- 03Before you sign
Verify both state tax exemptions
Florida separately addresses renewable-device value in property assessment and qualifying equipment under sales-tax law; confirm invoice treatment before signing.
Verified state policy
What can reduce your cost in Florida
Review these 4 statewide or utility-level policy signals before comparing net cost. They are not automatically applied because eligibility, tax liability, utility territory, equipment, and program capacity can change.
Policy configuration verified .
Policy sources- Broad state solar cash rebate
$0 statewide
Florida has no broad state-funded residential PV cash rebate. Utility, local loan, and PACE programs are separate.
- Solar sales and use tax exemption
100% exempt
Qualifying solar systems and certified integral components are exempt from Florida sales and use tax.
- Residential property-tax abatement
100% of added solar value
For qualifying residential property, the value added by a renewable energy source device is excluded from assessed value.
- Investor-owned utility net metering
Retail-rate monthly energy credit
Qualifying customer generation offsets monthly usage at the applicable retail energy rate. Annual excess and interconnection details follow the serving utility's approved tariff.
Calculation walkthrough
How we calculate for Florida
A worked example using this page's baseline assumptions. Calculator results above change when you edit the inputs.
Baseline inputs
Illustrative 1,000 kWh/month household
- Solar resource
- 4.916 peak sun hours/day
- Modeled system loss
- 20% loss / 80% delivered
- Household electricity use
- 12,000 kWh/year
- Energy value
- $0.1510 retail / $0.04 export
- 01
Annual output per 1 kW
Location and production losses
4.916 h/day × 365 days × 80% delivered
1,435 kWh/year
- 02
Required system capacity
Annual demand divided by output
12,000 kWh ÷ 1,435 kWh per kW
8.36 kW
- 03
Energy-based panel count
Rounded up; entered usable roof area can cap the result
8.36 kW ÷ 0.4 kW per panel → round up
21 panels
8.4 kW
- 04
Estimated first-year value
Retail offset plus export credit
12,000 kWh × $0.1510 + 58 kWh × $0.04
$1,814/year
Model notes and limitationsSources and scope
Production baseline
NLR PVWatts v8 modeled a 1 kW array at 20° tilt and 180° azimuth for Orlando, FL 32801, USA.
Energy valuation
Self-consumed production offsets the retail rate. Production above annual use is valued at the configured export rate; utility tariffs may use different timing or settlement rules.
Not included
Roof shading, structural conditions, hourly tariffs, financing, maintenance, incentives, and tax eligibility require separate verification.
Florida FAQ
Data updated: 2026-08-11. API baseline: Google Geocoding API, EIA Open Data API v2, and NLR PVWatts v8. Policy assumptions should be verified before purchase using the sources below.
Sources & verification
Review the original API, statute, regulator, or program documentation before relying on an estimate for a purchase, tax filing, or contract.
Data sources
Geocoding, residential electricity rates, and solar production inputs.
3 sources · Updated 2026-08-11
Data sources
- D1
Address normalization and coordinates
Google Geocoding API - D2
Residential electricity rate
EIA Open Data API v2 - D3
Solar production model
NLR PVWatts v8
State rules
Official references behind the state-specific decision checks.
3 primary references
State rules
- R1
Confirm annual excess-credit treatment
Florida Statute 366.91 and FPSC Rule 25-6.065 - R2
Document roof condition and wind design
Florida Building Code rooftop photovoltaic provisions - R3
Verify both state tax exemptions
Florida Statutes 193.624 and 212.08
Incentives
Tax, rebate, and compensation sources used for policy summaries.
4 policy sources · Reviewed Aug 11, 2026
Incentives
- P1
Broad state solar cash rebate: $0 statewide
Florida Public Service Commission - P2
Solar sales and use tax exemption: 100% exempt
Florida Department of Revenue, Section 212.08(7)(hh) - P3
Residential property-tax abatement: 100% of added solar value
Florida Statutes Section 193.624 - P4
Investor-owned utility net metering: Retail-rate monthly energy credit
Florida Statutes Section 366.91
