Florida Solar Savings Calculator: 2026 Updated

Florida Solar Savings Calculator

Calculate Florida solar costs, 2026 federal tax-credit status, utility net metering, property tax exemption, payback period, and 25-year savings.

Florida 2026 rules: No state income tax means no state solar tax credit. The federal Section 25D credit ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. Investor-owned utilities (FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO) offer retail-rate net metering with annual true-up. Florida law exempts the added value of solar from property tax assessment.

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Estimates only. Verify utility rates, net metering true-up terms, property tax exemption, and federal tax status with your utility, installer, and tax professional.

What Is the Florida Solar Savings Calculator?

The Florida Solar Savings Calculator is a residential solar cost and financial savings estimation tool. It calculates installation expenses, subtracts entered incentives, estimates solar electricity generation, and projects the financial value of solar energy over 25 years.

The calculator estimates how long a Florida solar installation may take to recover its initial cost and how much it could save over 25 years. It considers system size, installation price, electricity rates, self-consumed solar power, export credits, annual rate increases, recurring utility fees, and entered property tax savings.

Its two main outputs are the Payback Period and 25-Year Net Savings. The payback period identifies the first modeled year when accumulated savings recover the net system cost. The 25-year result represents total projected financial savings after subtracting that initial investment.

The calculator also displays estimated first-year electricity production, annual household electricity usage, solar offset percentage, and a 25-year carbon dioxide (CO2) offset.

These figures are estimates based on user-entered assumptions and fixed calculation factors. Actual electricity production and financial outcomes may differ.

How the Florida Solar Savings Calculation Works

The calculator combines solar installation costs, estimated electricity generation, utility compensation, and annual financial adjustments. It then projects savings over 25 years to determine the payback period and overall net financial result.

1. Calculate the Gross Solar Installation Cost

The gross installation cost is calculated by converting the solar system capacity from kilowatts into watts and multiplying it by the entered installed cost per watt.

G=K\times1000\times W

Where:

G = Gross solar installation cost in dollars.
K = Solar system capacity in kilowatts (kW).
W = Installed cost per watt in dollars.

For example, a 9 kW solar system installed at $2.85 per watt has a gross installation cost of:

9\times1000\times2.85=\$25,650

2. Calculate Net Solar Cost After Entered Incentives

The calculator subtracts any entered federal credit percentage, Florida state credit percentage, and upfront rebate amount from the gross installation cost.

Both percentage credits are calculated separately using the original gross system cost.

N=\max\left(0,G-\frac{Gf}{100}-\frac{Gs}{100}-R\right)

Here, N represents the net installation cost, f is the federal credit percentage, s is the Florida state credit percentage, and R is the upfront rebate amount in dollars.

The calculation prevents the net system cost from becoming negative. The federal credit, Florida state credit, and upfront rebate fields all default to zero.

The calculator’s 2026 explanatory notes state that the residential federal Section 25D credit ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. They also state that Florida has no state income tax or corresponding state solar income tax credit. The calculator does not independently verify tax eligibility or current incentive rules.

3. Estimate Annual Solar Electricity Production

The Florida calculator assumes that every kilowatt of installed solar capacity produces 1,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity during the first year.

P_1=K\times1500

Here, P₁ represents first-year solar electricity production in kWh, and K represents installed solar capacity in kW.

For a 9 kW system:

9\times1500=13,500\text{ kWh}

The calculator therefore estimates 13,500 kWh of electricity generation during the first year.

For subsequent years, it applies a fixed annual solar production degradation rate of 0.5%.

P_y=P_1\times(0.995)^{y-1}

In this formula, Pᵧ represents solar electricity production in year y.

The calculator also distributes annual production across 12 months using fixed monthly percentages of 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 15%, 19%, 19%, 15%, 8%, 4%, 2%, and 3%. These percentages total 100% and determine the monthly production amounts used in the savings calculation.

4. Calculate Household Electricity Usage and Solar Self-Consumption

The calculator first estimates annual household electricity consumption using your monthly electricity bill and entered electricity rate.

A=\frac{12B}{U}

Where A is annual household electricity usage in kWh, B is the monthly electric bill in dollars, and U is the retail electricity rate in dollars per kWh.

Next, it separates monthly solar production into self-consumed electricity and electricity treated as exported.

Self-consumed electricity is the smaller of the entered daytime self-consumption percentage of monthly solar production and one-twelfth of estimated annual household usage.

D_m=\min\left(\frac{M_mq}{100},\frac{A}{12}\right)

Exported electricity is the remaining monthly solar production after subtracting self-consumption, with a minimum of zero.

X_m=\max(0,M_m-D_m)

Here, Mₘ is monthly solar production, q is the entered daytime self-consumption percentage, Dₘ is self-consumed solar electricity, and Xₘ is exported electricity.

Self-consumed electricity is valued at the entered retail electricity rate. Exported electricity is valued at the entered Export Credit ($/kWh).

5. Calculate Annual Solar Savings

For each year, the calculator adds the financial value of self-consumed and exported electricity. It subtracts entered annual utility solar fees and adds entered annual property tax savings.

V_y=\sum_{m=1}^{12}\left(D_{y,m}U_y+X_{y,m}E_y\right)-F+T

Where:

Vᵧ = Calculated financial savings for year y.
Dᵧ,ₘ = Self-consumed electricity during month m of year y.
Xᵧ,ₘ = Exported solar electricity during month m of year y.
Uᵧ = Retail electricity rate for year y.
Eᵧ = Export credit rate for year y.
F = Annual utility solar fees.
T = Entered annual property tax savings.

The calculator increases both the retail electricity rate and the export credit rate annually using the entered utility rate increase percentage.

U_y=U_1(1+i)^{y-1}

E_y=E_1(1+i)^{y-1}

Here, i is the entered annual utility rate increase expressed as a decimal.

The same annual dollar amounts for utility solar fees and property tax savings are applied throughout the 25-year calculation. These amounts are not automatically adjusted for inflation.

6. Calculate the Solar Payback Period

The solar payback period is the first whole year when accumulated calculated savings equal or exceed the net installation cost.

\sum_{y=1}^{n}V_y\ge N

Here, n is the earliest modeled year when cumulative savings cover the net cost N.

The calculator checks up to 25 years. If net installation cost is zero, the result is Immediate. If cumulative savings do not recover the investment within 25 years, the result is 25+ Years.

7. Calculate 25-Year Net Savings

To determine long-term net savings, the calculator adds all 25 years of calculated financial benefits and subtracts the initial net system cost once.

\text{25-Year Net Savings}=\sum_{y=1}^{25}V_y-N

A positive result means total modeled savings exceed the net installation cost. A negative result means the projected benefits do not fully recover the investment over the calculation period.

8. Worked Example Using the Calculator’s Default Values

Consider a hypothetical Florida solar installation using the calculator’s default inputs.

Input	Value
Monthly Electric Bill	$170
Electricity Rate	$0.155/kWh
System Size	9 kW
Installed Cost per Watt	$2.85
Export Credit	$0.155/kWh
Daytime Self-Consumption	30%
Annual Utility Rate Increase	3.5%
Annual Utility Solar Fees	$0
Federal and State Credits	0%
Upfront Rebates	$0
Annual Property Tax Savings	$100

First, the calculator determines a gross installation cost of $25,650. Because no credits or upfront rebates are entered, the net installation cost is also $25,650.

First-year solar electricity production is estimated at 13,500 kWh. Estimated annual household electricity consumption is approximately 13,161 kWh.

In the first simulated year, 4,050 kWh is self-consumed and 9,450 kWh is treated as exported. Because the retail electricity rate and export credit are both $0.155/kWh, the modeled first-year electricity value is:

(4050\times0.155)+(9450\times0.155)=\$2,092.50

Adding the entered $100 in annual property tax savings gives $2,192.50 in first-year calculated savings.

Extending the calculation across 25 years, including a 3.5% annual utility rate increase and 0.5% annual solar production degradation, produces the following results:

Calculated Result	Value
Gross System Cost	$25,650
Net System Cost	$25,650
Year 1 Production	13,500 kWh
Annual Usage	13,161 kWh
Payback Period	11 Years
25-Year Net Savings	$52,966
Solar Offset	103%
25-Year CO2 Offset	143.1 tons

The 25-year calculation produces approximately $78,616 in cumulative modeled financial benefits before subtracting the $25,650 net installation cost.

These figures illustrate how the calculator operates using hypothetical values. They are not actual installation quotes or guaranteed financial outcomes.

How to Use the Florida Solar Savings Calculator

Enter your monthly electricity bill. Type your electricity expense under Monthly Electric Bill ($). The default is $170.
Enter your electricity rate. Provide Electricity Rate ($/kWh). The default is $0.155/kWh. Use a value greater than zero because the usage calculation divides by this number.
Enter the solar system capacity. Adjust System Size (kW) to the installation size you want to evaluate. The default is 9 kW.
Enter the installation price. Set Installed Cost per Watt ($) using your chosen installation cost assumption.
Select your utility. Choose FPL (Florida Power and Light), Duke Energy Florida, TECO (Tampa Electric), or Cooperative or Municipal. The selection does not independently change the mathematical calculation.
Adjust solar electricity assumptions. Enter Export Credit ($/kWh) and Daytime Self-Consumption (%). The self-consumption field allows values from 0% to 100%.
Set future utility assumptions. Adjust Annual Utility Rate Increase (%) and Annual Utility Solar Fees ($). The rate increase field allows 0% to 50%.
Review incentive inputs. Enter any applicable Direct Federal Credit (%), Florida State Credit (%), Upfront Rebates ($), and Property Tax Savings ($/yr).
Calculate your savings. Click Calculate Savings to display the cost breakdown, payback period, 25-year net savings, and electricity production figures.

The calculator also includes a Battery storage or high daytime self-use checkbox. Checking this option does not independently change the calculation. To explore a different amount of direct solar consumption, adjust Daytime Self-Consumption (%) manually.

Use Reset to restore the default input values and hide the previous results. You can then enter another scenario and recalculate.

Understanding Your Florida Solar Savings Results

Gross System Cost, Incentives, and Net Cost

Gross System Cost displays the installation price before entered incentives. Federal Credit, State Credit, and Rebates show the corresponding deductions. Net Cost shows the remaining amount after subtracting those values, with a minimum of zero.

The calculator does not determine whether a credit or rebate is available to you. Its credit fields are adjustable financial assumptions. Any nonzero amounts should reflect benefits you have independently verified.

Net Metering and Solar Export Credits

Net metering is a billing arrangement that may provide credits for eligible electricity exported from a solar installation to the electric grid.

The calculator’s explanatory notes describe retail-rate net metering and annual true-up arrangements for FPL, Duke Energy Florida, and TECO. However, the actual mathematical calculation simply values exported electricity at the entered Export Credit ($/kWh).

It does not separately calculate monthly credit rollover, annual avoided-cost settlements, or different utility-specific compensation rules. Changing the selected utility without changing the export credit does not affect the savings estimate.

Use an export credit assumption consistent with the terms that apply to your utility and installation.

Property Tax Savings

The calculator includes a Property Tax Savings ($/yr) field that defaults to $100. The entered amount is added to the calculated financial savings for each of the 25 modeled years.

Its accompanying notes describe Florida’s property tax treatment of added residential solar value. However, the calculator does not determine eligibility, calculate a home’s property assessment, or estimate tax savings from assessed property value.

The $100 default is a calculation assumption, not a verified tax benefit for every homeowner.

Payback Period and 25-Year Net Savings

The Payback Period result identifies the first whole year in which cumulative projected savings cover the calculated net installation cost. It appears as a number of years, Immediate, or 25+ Years.

The accompanying horizontal meter compares that payback year with the 25-year projection period. It does not represent an additional financial return calculation.

The separate 25-Year Net Savings result shows total calculated financial benefits after subtracting the initial net installation cost. A negative amount indicates that the modeled investment is not fully recovered within 25 years.

Solar Offset and CO2 Impact

Solar Offset compares estimated first-year solar production with estimated annual household electricity usage.

\text{Solar Offset (\%)}=\frac{P_1}{A}\times100

A value above 100% means estimated first-year solar generation exceeds estimated annual household electricity consumption. It does not mean that every kilowatt-hour is used directly inside the home.

The 25-Year CO2 Offset result uses cumulative estimated solar production across 25 years and applies a fixed conversion factor of 0.45 tons per 1,000 kWh.

\text{25-Year CO2 Offset}=\frac{0.45}{1000}\sum_{y=1}^{25}P_y

This is a simplified production-based environmental estimate rather than a measurement of actual emissions prevented.

Important Result-Label Limitations

Some labels in the calculator do not match the quantities shown by the current calculation code.

The rows labeled Year 1 Self-Use kWh and Year 1 Export kWh actually display values from the final simulated year, year 25, instead of the first year. Under the default assumptions, those displayed values are approximately 3,591 kWh and 8,379 kWh, respectively.

The row labeled Net Year 1 Savings also does not display first-year savings. It displays the positive portion of calculated 25-year net savings, or $0 when the 25-year result is negative.

The separate 25-Year Net Savings result displays the full calculated figure, including negative amounts.

Dollar results are formatted as whole U.S. dollars. Electricity production and usage are shown as whole kWh, Solar Offset as a whole percentage, and CO2 Offset to one decimal place.

The Retail Net Metering and Property Tax Exempt badges are informational labels. They do not independently confirm eligibility or change the calculation.

Expenses Not Separately Included

The calculator does not separately model solar loan interest, financing payments, maintenance, equipment replacement, insurance changes, or other ownership expenses. It subtracts entered annual utility solar fees, but additional expenses are not automatically included.

The calculation also does not discount future financial benefits into present-day dollars. Its 25-year result is based on accumulated projected dollar amounts and the initial net installation cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 9 kW solar system cost in Florida?

Using the calculator’s default installed price of $2.85 per watt, a 9 kW solar system has an estimated gross cost of $25,650. The net installation cost may be lower if applicable credits or upfront rebates are entered. Actual installation prices depend on your solar quote, equipment, property conditions, and included services.

How much electricity can a 9 kW solar system produce in Florida?

The calculator estimates 13,500 kWh of electricity during the first year for a 9 kW system. It assumes 1,500 kWh of first-year annual production per installed kW and reduces production by 0.5% each following year. Actual electricity generation depends on sunlight, shading, panel orientation, equipment, and system performance.

Does the Florida solar calculator include net metering?

Yes. The calculator includes an adjustable Export Credit ($/kWh) field to estimate compensation for solar electricity sent to the grid. Its notes describe Florida utility net metering, but the calculation does not automatically apply individual utility tariffs or annual true-up adjustments. Instead, it values exported electricity at the entered rate, adjusted by the assumed annual utility rate increase.

Does the calculator include federal and Florida solar tax credits?

The calculator provides adjustable federal and Florida state credit percentage fields, both initially set to 0%. Its 2026 notes state that the residential federal Section 25D credit ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, and that Florida has no state solar income tax credit. The tool does not verify tax eligibility or current rules, so confirm any incentive before entering a nonzero percentage.

How does the Florida property tax exemption affect solar savings?

The calculator includes a Property Tax Savings ($/yr) field with a default of $100. It adds the entered amount to calculated savings for every year of the 25-year projection. The tool does not calculate a property’s actual tax exemption or determine individual eligibility. Enter a verified amount appropriate to your circumstances.

Why does the solar payback period show 25+ Years?

A 25+ Years result means accumulated modeled savings do not recover the net installation cost during the calculator’s 25-year projection. This can occur when installation costs are high relative to the calculated electricity benefits, or when recurring fees reduce savings. The calculator does not calculate an exact payback year beyond 25 years.

Does selecting battery storage increase the calculated solar savings?

No. Selecting the Battery storage or high daytime self-use checkbox does not independently change the financial results. The calculation does not include separate battery costs, capacity, efficiency, or replacement expenses. You can adjust the daytime self-consumption percentage to explore a different solar usage assumption, but this is not a complete battery storage financial analysis.

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Florida Solar Savings Calculator