Is Solar Worth It in Florida in 2026? An Honest Answer Now That the Federal Tax Credit Is Gone

By Jesse Garlick | July 6, 2026

If you've researched solar in Florida before, almost everything you read is now out of date — and in a way that matters to your wallet. On July 4, 2025, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" eliminated the 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) for systems installed after December 31, 2025.

So if you buy solar with cash or a loan in 2026, you get $0 back from the federal government — a change that adds roughly $8,000–$10,000 to the real cost of an average system versus a year ago. Any site still promising "30% off" is giving you 2024 information. Let's do this honestly.

What solar actually costs in Florida in 2026

Installed prices in Florida currently run about $2.20–$2.80 per watt, averaging around $2.40/W before any incentives.

A ~11 kW system (enough to cover a large Florida home with year-round A/C) runs roughly $26,000–$31,000 before incentives.
A smaller 5 kW system is around $12,000.

With the federal credit gone, that's very close to your net cost now — which is exactly why the payback math has changed.

What incentives do still exist in Florida (2026)

It's not all bad news. Florida keeps two genuinely valuable state perks:

100% sales-tax exemption — you don't pay Florida's 6% sales tax on solar equipment (saves ~$1,500 on a $26k system).
Property-tax exemption — solar raises your home's value, but Florida won't tax you on that added value.

And critically, Florida still has full 1:1 retail net metering for FPL and Duke customers: every excess kWh your panels send to the grid offsets a kWh you pull later at the full retail rate, with monthly rollover and an annual true-up. That's the single biggest driver of Florida solar savings.

The honest payback math

Here's a realistic FPL example (verify with your own bill and a real quote):

FPL's all-in residential rate in 2026 is about 14.5¢/kWh (base + fuel + storm-protection charges), and a typical 1,000-kWh bill is around $137/month.
A system that wipes out a ~$180/month bill saves roughly $2,000–$2,200/year.
On a ~$27,000 net system, that's a ~12–15 year payback in 2026 — longer than the "6–8 years" you'll see on outdated pages, precisely because the federal credit is gone.

Panels last 25+ years, so it's still net-positive over the system's life — but the honest 2026 story is a longer payback that only makes sense if you plan to stay in the home long-term.

The two things that make Florida different

Rates keep climbing. FPL bills rose again in 2026, and storm-protection charges are a growing slice of every bill. The more rates rise, the faster solar pays off — locking in your cost is worth more here than in most states.
Hurricanes + battery backup. This is Florida's real edge. Solar alone shuts off in an outage — but solar paired with a battery keeps your fridge, A/C, and lights running when the grid goes down after a storm. For many Florida homeowners, that resilience — not just savings — is the deciding factor.

One honest risk to know about

Florida's net metering has survived repeated attempts by utilities to weaken it (a 2022 bill was vetoed). Systems interconnected before 2024 are grandfathered at full retail rates through 2029, and new customers still get strong terms today — but this is a policy worth watching. Going solar sooner locks in today's favorable rules.

So — is it worth it in 2026?

Honestly: yes, but for the right homeowner.

✅ Worth it if you have a high electric bill ($150+/mo), plan to stay in your home 10+ years, want protection from rising rates, or value hurricane backup power.
❌ Probably not yet if you might move in a few years, have a small bill, or were counting on the federal tax credit to make the numbers work.

The change in 2026 doesn't make Florida solar a bad deal — it makes it a longer-term deal that rewards homeowners who are staying put.

See exactly what solar would cost and save on your roof — try our free Florida Solar Savings Calculator, or get a no-pressure custom quote from vetted local installers.