The Orlando metro spans three counties and four utilities — OUC, FPL, Duke Energy, and KUA — each with distinct net metering policies. OUC changed its program on July 1, 2025. Know your utility before estimating solar savings.
Inside Orlando itself, power comes from Orlando Utilities Commission at roughly 12.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, among the lower residential rates in Florida. Across the wider metro the picture changes quickly: Seminole County is largely FPL with several Duke Energy cities, Osceola County is split between Kissimmee Utility Authority and Duke, and each provider credits exported solar differently. Sun resource is consistent across the metro at about 4.3 effective peak sun hours per day, already adjusted for inverter, heat, wiring and soiling losses. Because cheaper power means each solar kilowatt-hour offsets less money, system price and export credit terms carry more weight here than raw sunshine. Read the provider name on your bill, divide the total by the kilowatt-hours used, and enter that rate below.
Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) replaced traditional 1:1 net metering with a new TruNet Solar program effective July 1, 2025. New solar customers now receive approximately 4.6 cents/kWh for exports (community solar rate) for the first 5 years — significantly less than the full retail credit prior customers received.
A temporary grace period kept some new customers on higher credits through approximately Fall 2026 — but this is ending. OUC also added a $2,000-per-premise rebate. Customers who went solar before 7/1/25 are grandfathered into 20-year 1:1 net metering. If you are considering solar under OUC, confirm the exact current credit rate directly with OUC before finalizing any payback estimate.
Find out how much you can save based on your location and current energy usage.
Most solar content assumes a single utility. The Orlando metro covers Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties — and the economics differ materially depending on whether OUC, FPL, Duke Energy, or KUA serves your address.
OUC ended traditional 1:1 net metering on July 1, 2025. New solar customers under TruNet Solar receive approximately 4.6 cents/kWh for exported electricity for the first 5 years, then transition to the retail fuel rate. This is substantially below the full retail rate prior customers received.
A temporary grace period kept new customers on higher credits through approximately Fall 2026 — confirm current status directly with OUC since timing matters. Customers who interconnected before 7/1/25 are grandfathered into 20-year legacy 1:1 net metering.
OUC added a $2,000-per-premise rebate as part of this change — verify current availability and eligibility with OUC directly.
Duke Energy Florida serves portions of Orange County outside OUC's territory (parts of unincorporated Orange County and some suburban areas). Duke offers 1:1 net metering under Florida PSC Rule 25-6.065: every exported kilowatt-hour earns a full retail-rate credit, with monthly rollover of surplus credits.
At the annual true-up, any remaining surplus is settled at Duke's non-firm wholesale rate — roughly 2 cents/kWh, far below retail. Duke also charges approximately $12/month in customer charges regardless of solar production. No utility cash rebate for residential solar.
Check the provider name on your electric bill — OUC and Duke Energy serve different geographic areas within Orange County.
FPL serves approximately 65,000 customers in Seminole County, concentrated in Sanford (~96% FPL), Lake Mary (~65% FPL), and Oviedo (~42% FPL). FPL offers 1:1 net metering at full retail rate: every kilowatt-hour exported earns a credit at the same rate you pay for power, with monthly rollover.
At the annual true-up each January, any remaining banked credits are paid at FPL's lower avoided-cost rate. FPL generally caps residential solar at 115% of trailing 12-month usage, so right-sizing to actual annual consumption matters.
No FPL cash rebate for residential solar in Seminole County.
Duke Energy Florida serves approximately 17,500 customers in Seminole County. Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, and Winter Springs are 100% Duke Energy. Oviedo is approximately 58% Duke.
Same terms as described above: 1:1 retail-rate net metering under Florida PSC Rule 25-6.065, monthly rollover, annual true-up at ~2 cents/kWh wholesale, and a ~$12/month customer charge.
No Duke Energy cash rebate for residential solar in Seminole County. Confirm your utility on your electric bill.
Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) is a municipal utility serving approximately 91,500 customers in Kissimmee and St. Cloud. KUA offers a net metering program (Schedule NM-1) for residential solar.
However, public information on KUA's exact residential export credit rate is inconsistent. Some solar installer sources describe KUA's program as net billing at around 8–9 cents/kWh rather than full 1:1 retail credit like FPL or Duke. KUA's own published materials do not clearly specify this residential rate publicly.
If you are a KUA customer, contact KUA directly to confirm the exact export credit structure before assuming 1:1 net metering economics in your payback estimates. KUA does not currently offer a rebate for residential solar installation.
Duke Energy Florida serves the western part of Kissimmee and the rest of Osceola County outside KUA's territory. Standard Duke 1:1 net metering terms apply: full retail-rate credit per kilowatt-hour exported, monthly rollover, annual true-up at ~2 cents/kWh wholesale, and a ~$12/month customer charge.
No Duke Energy cash rebate for residential solar in Osceola County.
Check your electric bill to confirm whether you are a KUA or Duke Energy customer — especially in Kissimmee where the two territories overlap.
Regardless of whether OUC, FPL, Duke Energy, or KUA serves your home, two Florida statewide incentives apply to homeowners who own their system (cash purchase or loan — not lease or PPA):
Leases and PPAs do not qualify for these exemptions since you do not own the equipment.
The 30% federal residential solar tax credit under Section 25D of the Internal Revenue Code expired December 31, 2025. Systems installed in 2026 or later are not eligible for this credit.
Be cautious of any installer or quote that still advertises "claim 30% back from the federal government" for a 2026 installation — that credit is no longer available.
Confirm with a tax professional if your installer references federal incentives.
Central Florida is squarely in the Sun Belt — the Orlando metro area receives approximately 5.2–5.3 peak sun hours per day, providing strong year-round solar production conditions. This consistent solar resource is one of the reasons Florida solar economics can work well. However, the financial outcome depends critically on your utility's export credit structure — OUC's TruNet Solar change means new OUC customers should not use generic Florida payback estimates without confirming current credit rates. For FPL and Duke Energy customers in Seminole County and parts of Orange/Osceola County, the validated Florida average payback range of 7–9 years for cash or loan purchases is a reasonable starting point. For KUA customers and new OUC customers, get quotes that use current, utility-specific rate schedules.
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.
Yes, significantly. Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) ended its traditional 1:1 net metering program on July 1, 2025, replacing it with a new program called TruNet Solar. Under TruNet Solar, new solar customers receive a community solar rate of approximately 4.6 cents per kilowatt-hour for their exported electricity for the first 5 years, after which they transition to OUC's retail fuel rate. This is substantially lower than the full retail credit (typically 12–14 cents/kWh) that prior OUC customers received under 1:1 net metering. Customers who interconnected solar before July 1, 2025 are grandfathered into a legacy 20-year 1:1 net metering program and are not affected. OUC added a $2,000-per-premise rebate as part of this change. There has been a temporary grace period keeping some new customers on a higher credit through approximately Fall 2026 — if you are considering solar under OUC now, confirm the exact current credit rate and any grace period status directly with OUC before finalizing your payback estimates, since timing matters and these terms are actively evolving.
Yes. While OUC serves most of the city of Orlando, Duke Energy Florida serves portions of Orange County outside OUC's territory — including parts of unincorporated Orange County and some suburban areas. Duke Energy Florida offers 1:1 net metering under Florida PSC Rule 25-6.065: every kilowatt-hour exported earns a full retail-rate credit, with monthly rollover of surplus credits. At the annual true-up, any remaining surplus is settled at Duke's non-firm wholesale rate — roughly 2 cents/kWh, far below retail. Duke also charges approximately $12/month in customer charges regardless of solar production. Duke does not offer a cash rebate for residential solar in Orange County. Check the provider name on your electric bill to confirm whether you are an OUC or Duke Energy customer.
Seminole County is genuinely split between Florida Power & Light (FPL, approximately 65,000 customers) and Duke Energy Florida (approximately 17,500 customers). Coverage varies by city: Sanford (~96% FPL), Lake Mary (~65% FPL/35% Duke), Oviedo (~42% FPL/58% Duke), Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, and Winter Springs (100% Duke Energy Florida). FPL offers 1:1 net metering at the full retail rate: every kilowatt-hour exported earns a credit at the same rate you pay for power, with monthly rollover. At the annual true-up each January, any remaining banked credits are paid at FPL's lower avoided-cost rate. FPL generally caps residential solar at 115% of trailing 12-month usage. Duke Energy Florida's terms are the same as described above — 1:1 at retail with monthly rollover, annual wholesale settlement (~2 cents/kWh), and a ~$12/month customer charge. Check the provider name on your electric bill before estimating savings.
Neither entirely. Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) is a municipal utility serving approximately 91,500 customers in Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Duke Energy Florida serves the western part of Kissimmee and the rest of Osceola County outside KUA's territory. KUA does offer a net metering program (their Schedule NM-1) for residential solar systems, but public information on KUA's exact residential export credit rate is inconsistent. Some solar installer sources describe KUA's program as a net billing arrangement that credits exports at a lower rate — around 8–9 cents/kWh — rather than full 1:1 retail credit like FPL or Duke. KUA's own published materials do not clearly specify this residential rate publicly. If you live in KUA territory (Kissimmee or St. Cloud), confirm the exact credit structure directly with KUA before assuming 1:1 net metering economics apply to your estimates. KUA does not currently offer a rebate for residential solar installation. Duke Energy customers elsewhere in Osceola County get standard Duke 1:1 net metering terms described above.
OUC added a $2,000-per-premise rebate as part of its TruNet Solar program change that took effect July 1, 2025. This rebate was introduced alongside the shift from traditional 1:1 net metering to the new export credit structure. Confirm current rebate availability and eligibility requirements directly with OUC, since the program terms are actively evolving. Duke Energy Florida does not offer a cash rebate for residential solar in Orange County. KUA does not currently offer a rebate for residential solar installation in Osceola County.
No. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit under Section 25D of the Internal Revenue Code expired December 31, 2025. Systems installed in 2026 or later are not eligible for this credit. Be cautious of any installer or quote that still advertises 'claim 30% back from the federal government' for a 2026 installation — that credit is no longer available. Confirm this directly with a tax professional if your installer references federal incentives.
Two Florida-wide incentives apply to all Orlando metro homeowners who own their system (cash purchase or loan — not lease or PPA): (1) The 100% property tax exemption — the added home value from a solar installation is completely exempt from Florida property tax assessment, permanently under Florida law. (2) The 100% Florida sales tax exemption on solar equipment purchases, which saves approximately $1,200–$1,800 on a typical $20,000–$30,000 system at the point of purchase. These apply regardless of whether OUC, FPL, Duke Energy, or KUA serves your home. Leases and PPAs do not qualify for these exemptions since you do not own the equipment.
Payback period varies considerably across the metro in 2026, primarily because OUC's TruNet Solar program changed the economics for new OUC customers. For FPL customers in Seminole County, the validated Florida average payback range of 7–9 years for cash or loan purchases is a reasonable starting estimate, given full 1:1 retail-rate net metering and no utility rebate. For Duke Energy customers across Orange, Seminole, and Osceola County, the same 7–9 year range applies roughly, though Duke's ~$12/month customer charge modestly slows payback. For new OUC customers in Orlando, payback will likely be longer than the state average because exports earn only ~4.6 cents/kWh rather than full retail credit — get updated estimates from installers who use current OUC TruNet Solar rates, not legacy 1:1 assumptions. For KUA customers in Kissimmee/St. Cloud, confirm KUA's exact export credit rate before estimating, since it may be below full retail. The 30% federal tax credit is no longer available for 2026 installations, which extends payback compared to prior years for all customers.
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.