Volusia County is split among three utilities — FPL, Duke Energy Florida, and New Smyrna Beach Utilities — each with distinct net metering rules and incentives. Your city determines which utility serves you.
Florida Power & Light is the primary utility in Volusia County at roughly 14.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, serving Ormond Beach, Port Orange and much of the Daytona area, but the county is not served by one provider alone. Duke Energy Florida covers DeLand and other western communities, and New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission serves its own city, each with different export credit rules and monthly charges. Volusia sits toward the northern end of the peninsula, so effective production is about 4.1 peak sun hours per day once inverter, heat, wiring and coastal soiling losses are taken out. Confirm which utility name appears on your bill, divide the total charge by the kilowatt-hours used, and run that rate through the calculator below.
Volusia County has one of Florida's most complex utility splits. FPL is largest (~218,880 customers), Duke Energy Florida serves ~67,679 customers, and New Smyrna Beach Utilities (NSBU, a municipal utility) serves ~31,664 customers concentrated almost entirely in New Smyrna Beach. Each has different solar rules.
Daytona Beach is roughly 75% FPL/25% Duke. Deltona is about 69% FPL/31% Duke. Check the provider name on your electric bill — do not assume.
Find out how much you can save based on your location and current energy usage.
Most Florida solar content assumes FPL. In Volusia County, a third of the county is Duke or NSBU territory with meaningfully different rates and policies. The right starting point is knowing who your utility is.
FPL offers 1:1 net metering at full retail rate: every kilowatt-hour your system exports earns a credit at the same rate you pay for power. Surplus monthly credits roll forward throughout the year.
At the annual true-up each January, any remaining banked credits are paid out at FPL's lower avoided-cost rate — significantly below what you earned during the year. FPL generally caps residential solar at 115% of trailing 12-month usage, so right-sizing your system to actual annual consumption matters.
Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Holly Hill, South Daytona, and Daytona Beach Shores are 100% FPL. Daytona Beach is about 75% FPL. Confirm on your bill.
Duke Energy Florida 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.
DeLand, Orange City, and Pierson are 100% Duke. Lake Helen is ~92% Duke. DeBary is ~60% Duke. Confirm on your bill.
NSBU is a municipal utility serving mainly New Smyrna Beach (~93% of the city). NSBU offers full retail-rate 1:1 net metering for residential systems up to 10 kW, with no cap on total program enrollment. At the annual true-up, any remaining surplus is paid at NSBU's avoided-cost rate.
NSBU Battery Storage Rebate — Up to $3,000 (Time-Limited)
NSBU currently offers a battery storage rebate of up to $3,000 for NSBU customers who already have interconnected solar. This rebate is currently set to run through September 30, 2026. It is time-limited — confirm current status and eligibility directly with NSBU before counting on it. NSBU also offers a smaller 25%-of-cost/up-to-$200 solar attic fan credit.
These NSBU incentives only apply within NSBU's service territory — mainly New Smyrna Beach. They do not apply to FPL or Duke Energy customers elsewhere in Volusia County. NSBU does not offer a cash rebate for solar panels alone (PV only) — the rebate is battery-specific.
PACE availability in Volusia County is city-specific, not county-wide. Renew Financial lists Edgewater, Orange City, and Port Orange as active participating areas for residential PACE. Renew Financial does not list unincorporated Volusia County, Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, or New Smyrna Beach as participating areas.
If you live outside those three cities, check the service map at floridapace.gov for your specific address rather than assuming PACE is available.
PACE assessments take lien priority ahead of your mortgage. Review the full terms with your lender before signing.
No utility-specific cash rebate for rooftop solar (PV) is available from FPL, Duke Energy Florida, or NSBU in Volusia County. (NSBU's battery rebate is storage-only, not a PV rebate.) The financial case rests on net metering value plus Florida's two statewide incentives.
Florida's 100% property tax exemption on solar-added home value and the 100% sales tax exemption on solar equipment purchases apply to all Volusia County homeowners who own their system. On a typical $20,000–$30,000 system, the sales tax exemption alone saves $1,200–$1,800 at purchase.
The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 — not available for systems installed in 2026 or later.
Volusia County receives approximately 5.2–5.3 peak sun hours per day, typical of Northeast Florida's climate. The county's average residential electric bill runs around $162/month — roughly the 32nd most expensive county in Florida for electricity — which reflects the region's cooling demand. Higher bills generally support faster solar payback, though actual results depend on system size, utility rate structure, financing type, and self-consumption. Get multiple quotes and ask installers to use your specific utility's current rate schedule, not a generic Florida average.
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.
Volusia County is split among three utilities — Florida Power & Light (FPL, ~218,880 customers), Duke Energy Florida (~67,679 customers), and New Smyrna Beach Utilities (NSBU, ~31,664 customers concentrated in New Smyrna Beach). Coverage varies dramatically by city: Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Holly Hill, South Daytona, and Daytona Beach Shores are 100% FPL. DeLand, Orange City, and Pierson are 100% Duke Energy Florida. Daytona Beach is roughly 75% FPL/25% Duke. Deltona is about 69% FPL/31% Duke. DeBary is about 40% FPL/60% Duke. Lake Helen is about 8% FPL/92% Duke. New Smyrna Beach is about 93% NSBU. These utilities have different net metering structures, customer charges, and annual true-up policies — all of which affect how much solar can save you. Check the provider name on your electric bill before using any solar savings estimate.
FPL offers 1:1 net metering at the full retail rate: every kilowatt-hour your system exports earns a credit equal to the rate you pay for electricity. Surplus monthly credits roll forward throughout the year. At the annual true-up each January, any remaining banked credits are paid out at FPL's avoided-cost rate — significantly lower than the retail rate earned during the year. FPL generally caps residential solar systems at 115% of the home's trailing 12-month electricity usage, so right-sizing your system to your annual consumption matters. FPL does not offer a utility cash rebate for residential solar in Volusia County.
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 how much solar you produce. DeLand, Orange City, and Pierson are 100% Duke territory; DeBary is about 60% Duke; Lake Helen is about 92% Duke. Duke Energy does not offer a cash rebate for residential solar in Volusia County.
NSBU is a municipal utility serving mainly New Smyrna Beach (~93% of the city). NSBU offers full retail-rate 1:1 net metering for residential systems up to 10 kW, with no cap on total program enrollment. At the annual true-up, any remaining surplus is paid at NSBU's avoided-cost rate. NSBU also offers a battery storage rebate of up to $3,000 for NSBU customers who already have interconnected solar — this rebate is currently set to run through September 30, 2026, so it is time-limited and you should confirm current status and eligibility directly with NSBU before counting on it. NSBU also offers a smaller 25%-of-cost/up-to-$200 solar attic fan credit. Importantly, these NSBU incentives only apply within NSBU's service territory — they do not apply to FPL or Duke customers elsewhere in Volusia County. NSBU does not offer a utility cash rebate for solar panels themselves (PV systems), only the battery and attic fan credits.
PACE availability in Volusia County is city-specific, not county-wide. Renew Financial lists Edgewater, Orange City, and Port Orange as active participating areas for residential PACE. However, Renew Financial does NOT list unincorporated Volusia County, Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, or New Smyrna Beach as participating areas. If you live outside of Edgewater, Orange City, or Port Orange, check the service map at floridapace.gov directly for your specific address rather than assuming PACE is available. Important: PACE financing requires no money down and is repaid through your property tax bill, but the assessment takes lien priority ahead of your existing mortgage — review the full terms carefully with your lender before signing.
No utility cash rebate for rooftop solar (PV systems) has been confirmed from FPL, Duke Energy Florida, or NSBU in Volusia County. NSBU offers a separate battery storage rebate (up to $3,000, currently through September 30, 2026) for existing solar customers, and a small solar attic fan credit — but neither is a solar panel rebate. For FPL and Duke customers, the financial case rests on 1:1 net metering value plus Florida's statewide property and sales tax exemptions.
Two Florida-wide incentives apply to all Volusia County 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. (2) The 100% Florida sales tax exemption on solar equipment purchases, which saves roughly $1,200–$1,800 on a typical $20,000–$30,000 system at the point of purchase. These apply regardless of whether FPL, Duke Energy, or NSBU serves your home. Leases and PPAs do not qualify for these exemptions since you do not own the equipment.
No. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit under Section 25D of the tax 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.
For FPL and Duke Energy Florida customers in Volusia County, the validated Florida average payback range of 7–9 years for cash or loan purchases is a reasonable starting estimate, given that both utilities offer 1:1 net metering and neither offers a utility cash rebate. Volusia County's average residential electric bill runs around $162/month — near the 32nd most expensive county in Florida — which supports solar economics reasonably well. For NSBU customers in New Smyrna Beach, the same 7–9 year range is likely a reasonable starting estimate given NSBU's 1:1 retail-rate structure, though the battery storage rebate (currently through September 30, 2026) could improve economics if you pair storage with solar. Get multiple quotes and confirm your utility and its current rate schedule before finalizing any estimate. The 30% federal tax credit is no longer available for 2026 installations.
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.