Hillsborough is TECO territory. TECO offers 1:1 net metering like FPL — but no cash rebate. A temporary storm surcharge on bills ends in September 2026. Get your personalized estimate below.
Tampa Electric serves nearly all of Hillsborough County, and at roughly 16.5 cents per kilowatt-hour TECO customers pay one of the higher residential rates in Florida. That works in favor of solar: every kilowatt-hour your roof produces is worth more here than in cheaper territories like Orlando. Using Tampa as the local reference point, Hillsborough sees about 4.2 effective peak sun hours per day, meaning the figure already reflects real-world losses from heat, inverter conversion, wiring and dust on the glass. Fuel cost recovery charges move TECO rates from year to year, so grab your most recent bill, divide the amount owed by the kilowatt-hours used, and enter that rate below for a Tampa-specific estimate.
Find out how much you can save based on your location and current energy usage.
Most Florida solar content defaults to FPL. Hillsborough County is served by TECO — Tampa Electric Company — with its own rate schedule and solar policies. Here's what actually matters for your decision.
TECO provides full retail-rate net metering for residential solar systems up to 10 kW. Every kilowatt-hour your panels export to the grid earns you a credit at the same rate you pay when buying electricity — approximately 13 cents/kWh all-in.
This is the same favorable structure FPL offers across most of Florida, and it stands in sharp contrast to JEA in Duval County, which credits exports at only 3–4 cents/kWh. In Hillsborough, right-sizing your system to your annual consumption is financially rewarding because surplus generation carries its full value.
The validated Florida average payback of 7–9 years for cash or loan purchases applies reasonably well here.
TECO's energy charge effective January 2026 is 9.569 cents/kWh for usage up to 1,000 kWh and 10.569 cents/kWh above that. With base customer charges, fuel adjustment, and other riders, the all-in average residential rate is roughly 13 cents/kWh.
One important current factor: a temporary storm restoration surcharge related to the 2024 hurricane season is on TECO bills through August 2026. Starting September 2026, that surcharge rolls off and bills will decrease.
If you are evaluating solar economics using your current TECO bills, be aware they are slightly elevated. Your monthly savings projection should account for the lower baseline rate that takes effect this fall.
Unlike JEA in Duval County, TECO does not offer a direct cash rebate for residential solar installations. There is no TECO equivalent to JEA's 50-cent-per-watt, $4,000-maximum rebate.
The financial case for solar in Hillsborough County rests on three legs: TECO's 1:1 net metering value, Florida's 100% property tax exemption on the solar-added home value, and the 6% Florida sales tax exemption on equipment purchases (saving $1,200–$1,800 on a typical $20,000–$30,000 system).
The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 — it is not available for systems installed in 2026 or later.
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved residential PACE financing on December 18, 2024. PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) is offered through providers such as Renew Financial: no money down, no personal credit check, and repayment is collected via your property tax bill.
Important limitation: The county approval covers unincorporated Hillsborough County. If your home is within the city limits of Tampa, Temple Terrace, or Plant City, those municipalities govern PACE separately. Confirm eligibility for your specific address at floridapace.gov or by contacting the county.
PACE assessments take lien priority ahead of your existing mortgage. Review the terms carefully with your lender before signing.
Florida has no state income tax credit, but it offers powerful property and sales tax exemptions for solar installations that significantly improve your ROI.
100% exemption from increased property taxes. Adding solar increases your home's value, but Florida law prevents that added value from increasing your property tax bill.
FL Dept of Revenue6-7.5% savings on equipment. Solar energy systems are completely exempt from Florida's sales and use tax, saving you thousands upfront on the purchase price.
Florida Solar Energy CenterNote: These exemptions apply to purchased or financed systems. Leased systems (PPAs) do not qualify for these specific homeowner tax exemptions.
Hillsborough County is served by TECO — Tampa Electric Company — for most residential customers. TECO is a regulated investor-owned utility, not a municipal utility like JEA in Jacksonville and not FPL. If you have received solar estimates calculated using FPL rates, be aware that TECO has its own rate schedule, though the all-in average residential rate (roughly 13 cents/kWh) is broadly similar to FPL's.
TECO offers 1:1 retail-rate net metering for residential solar systems up to 10 kW. That means every kilowatt-hour your panels generate and export to the grid earns you a credit at the same rate you pay when buying electricity — roughly 13 cents/kWh all-in. This is the same favorable structure FPL offers, and stands in contrast to JEA in Duval County, which credits exports at only 3–4 cents/kWh. Full retail-rate crediting makes right-sizing your system to your annual usage straightforward and financially meaningful in Hillsborough.
TECO's energy charge effective January 2026 is 9.569 cents/kWh for the first 1,000 kWh of usage and 10.569 cents/kWh above that. When base customer charges, fuel adjustment charges, and other pass-through fees are included, the all-in average residential rate is approximately 13 cents/kWh. One current note: a temporary storm restoration surcharge related to the 2024 hurricane season has been added to TECO bills and is expected to remain through August 2026. Bills should decrease in September 2026 when that surcharge rolls off — if you are evaluating solar economics now, the slightly elevated current bill will moderate somewhat later this year.
No. As of 2026, TECO does not offer a direct cash rebate for residential rooftop solar installations. This is different from JEA in Duval County, which offers a 50-cent-per-watt rebate up to $4,000. The financial case for solar in Hillsborough rests on TECO's 1:1 net metering, Florida's 100% property tax exemption, and the 6% sales tax exemption on solar equipment purchases. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 and is not available for systems installed in 2026 or later.
Yes — for unincorporated Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved residential PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing on December 18, 2024. PACE is offered through providers such as Renew Financial: no money down, no credit check required, and repayment is added to your property tax bill. Important caveats: (1) The approval covers unincorporated Hillsborough County. If your home is inside the city limits of Tampa, Temple Terrace, or Plant City, those municipalities govern separately — confirm your eligibility at floridapace.gov or by contacting the county. (2) A PACE assessment takes lien priority ahead of your existing mortgage. Review the full terms carefully and consult your lender before signing.
Because TECO offers 1:1 net metering — the same favorable crediting structure as FPL — the validated Florida average payback range of 7–9 years for cash or loan purchases applies reasonably well in Hillsborough. Keep in mind: TECO has no cash rebate, so you do not benefit from the upfront reduction JEA customers in Duval receive. Florida's property and sales tax exemptions remain available statewide. Note that the 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 — any contractor estimate you receive for a 2026 installation should not factor in a 30% federal credit.
Two Florida-wide incentives apply regardless of whether you are in TECO, FPL, or another utility's territory: (1) The 100% property tax exemption — the added home value from a solar installation is completely exempt from Florida property tax assessment. (2) The 6% Florida sales tax exemption on solar equipment purchases. On a typical $20,000–$30,000 system, the sales tax exemption alone saves $1,200–$1,800 at the point of purchase. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 and is not available for systems installed in 2026 or later.
DISCLAIMER: All estimates are approximations based on regional averages. Actual savings vary by location, roof orientation, utility provider, and installer. This calculator does not guarantee specific savings.