FPL in 2026: rates, $30 minimum charge and net metering in Central Florida

FPL (Florida Power & Light) is Florida’s largest utility, and in Central Florida it serves Sanford and other areas of Seminole and the east coast. If your home is within about 50 miles of Orlando and your bill is from FPL, it can qualify for the solar energy subscription. In 2026 FPL charges a $10.52 base charge, about 11.5¢ per kWh before taxes, and a $30 minimum charge.

Who does FPL serve in Central Florida?

FPL serves more than 6 million accounts in Florida, according to its company profile. Most are in the south and along the east coast. In Central Florida its territory is smaller: Sanford and parts of Seminole County, plus areas toward the coast. In Orlando, Kissimmee, Davenport or Clermont the utility is usually Duke or a municipal.

For the subscription, what counts is that your bill is from FPL and your home is within about 50 miles of Orlando. South Florida is outside the area, even though it is also FPL.

Does FPL qualify for the solar energy subscription?

Yes. The subscription accepts FPL, Duke Energy and TECO customers. Municipals and co-ops do not qualify. With FPL, the rest of the requirements are about your home:

If you qualify, you save at least 30% on your total bill, guaranteed in writing, with a fixed monthly payment for 3 or 5 years and no upfront cost. Details in how the solar subscription works.

How much does FPL charge per kWh in 2026?

The RS-1 residential rate in effect since September 2026 has a fixed charge and several per-kWh charges. This is what the official rate sheet shows:

The total is our own math on the published components. On top go the gross receipts tax, the franchise fee and your city’s utility tax. FPL reported that the typical 1,000 kWh bill went from $134.14 to $136.64 in January 2026. EnergySage reports a statewide average of 16¢/kWh from real bills: that includes taxes and homes above 1,000 kWh.

A kWh (kilowatt-hour) is the energy unit your meter measures: a 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh.

What is FPL’s $30 minimum charge?

It is the least you pay for the base portion of your service, even if you buy almost nothing from the grid. FPL calls it the minimum base bill. It applies to the base charge plus base energy; fuel, clauses and taxes are separate. If your base charges fall below $30, a line appears that fills the difference.

In a month when you exported more than you used, you will see $30 base, plus fuel on the little you bought, plus taxes. That is why we will never promise you a zero bill. How to read each line: how to read your FPL bill.

Heads up: FPL’s explainer PDF still shows $25 examples because it was written before the adjustment. The September 2026 rate sheet and the net metering FAQ say $30. If someone promises “$25 a month and nothing else,” they are using an old number and leaving out taxes.

How does net metering work with FPL?

FPL credits each kWh you export at the same value as one you use. Net metering is the arrangement where your bidirectional meter subtracts what you produce from what you buy. The rules come from PSC Rule 25-6.065 and FPL’s guidelines:

• Monthly credit: surplus kWh apply to the next month’s bill.
• Annual payout (true-up): kWh still in your bank in December are paid at the COG-1 rate, a fraction of what you pay per kWh.
• Design cap: the system must produce less than 115% of your annual usage and not exceed 90% of your service capacity.
• Tiers and fees: Tier 1 (10 kW or less) no fee or insurance; Tier 2 $400 fee and $1 million insurance; Tier 3 $1,000 and $2 million.
• Meter: FPL installs the bidirectional meter at no cost. Turning the system on before that is prohibited.

In the subscription, the installation team handles that paperwork. The full guide is in net metering in Florida.

Does FPL have a time-of-use rate?

Yes, the RTR-1 rider is voluntary: about 26¢/kWh on peak and about 9¢ off peak. On weekdays, the summer peak (April to October) runs 12 PM to 9 PM; winter, 6 to 10 AM and 6 to 10 PM. It requires a one-year commitment and a meter change. With solar it can help because in summer you export during the peak, but if the family turns everything on at 5 PM, the peak eats the savings. More in time-of-use rates in Florida.

How do I download my FPL bill?

Log into your account at fpl.com (My Account → View Bill). You can download each month’s PDF there. To check whether you qualify and how much you save, we need your last 12 months; the 13-month kWh chart on the bill also works. Start with the diagnosis.

When solar with FPL does NOT make sense

• Your bill is low: the $30 minimum charge plus taxes eats much of the savings.
• Your home is outside the ~50 miles from Orlando: the subscription does not reach you, so you would weigh buying, a loan or a lease.
• Your roof is tile or metal, or has little life left: roof first. See roof before solar.
• You have a very high bill, an ideal roof and capital or strong credit: buying can save more over 25 years.

What to check before deciding

• Your 12 FPL bills, not a neighborhood average.
• If you buy: that the system produces less than 115% of your annual usage.
• That projected savings subtract the $30 minimum charge, fuel and taxes.
• If you are offered TOU, ask for the analysis with your real usage hours.
• If you qualify for the subscription, compare it against buying with the same 12 months.