Solar energy in Orlando in 2026: OUC or Duke, and who qualifies for the subscription

In Orlando the first question is not what it costs, but who sends you the bill. If it is Duke Energy, your home can qualify for the solar energy subscription and save at least 30%, guaranteed in writing. If it is OUC, the city’s municipal utility, the subscription does not apply and new systems no longer get full retail for what they export.

Which utility serves Orlando?

Two main ones. OUC (Orlando Utilities Commission) is the municipal utility: it serves the city of Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of Orange and Osceola. Duke Energy Florida serves the rest of the metro area. FPL also shows up in some areas of the east side of the county.

With Duke: 1:1 net metering under PSC Rule 25-6.065. Each exported kWh is worth the same as one consumed, surplus rolls month to month, and at year end Duke pays the leftover at its COG-1 rate. $30 monthly minimum charge. Details in Duke Energy: rates and net metering.

With OUC: the program is called TruNet and it changed on July 1, 2025. According to OUC’s official page:

Also, from fall 2026 OUC eliminates the solar bank: generation is credited only in the same month. OUC interconnection fees are $0 for Tier 1, $340 for Tier 2 and $1,300 for Tier 3.

Who qualifies for the solar energy subscription in Orlando?

Your home qualifies if your bill is from Duke (or FPL where it serves) and it meets the rest. If it is OUC, it does not.

If you qualify, you replace your bill with one at least 30% lower, with a fixed monthly payment for 3 or 5 years and no upfront cost. The installation team installs, maintains, insures and repairs everything, with full warranty. Details in how the solar subscription works.

Heads up: if you are an OUC customer and someone shows you savings calculated “with 1-to-1 net metering,” they are showing you a program that no longer exists for new systems. Ask for the projection with the Community Solar rate for exports. The result is usually a smaller system, a battery, or not doing it.

How much does it cost to buy a solar system in Orlando in 2026?

If you prefer to buy, EnergySage reports $2.08 per installed watt in Orlando with September 2026 data, below the Florida average ($2.12/W).

That payback assumes 1:1 credit; with new OUC service it does not apply. The 30% federal credit for buyers (25D) ended for systems placed in service after 12/31/2025; confirm with your tax preparer. Compare the options in ways to get solar compared.

How many sun hours does Orlando get?

Orlando gets 5.4 peak sun hours a day on a fixed panel, according to TurbineGenerator. One peak sun hour is one hour’s equivalent of full irradiance. Summer storms cut production from June to September, right when you use the most. That is why any design should use monthly data.

What is the typical bill in Orlando?

EnergySage reports $285 a month, 1,694 kWh and 17¢/kWh among people shopping for solar in Orlando in 2026, a mix of Duke and OUC customers. Duke cut its 1,000 kWh bill by about $50 between January and June 2026. If a proposal was made before March, the savings are inflated. How to read the bill: how to read your Duke Energy bill.

Roof and HOA in Orlando

Orlando has a lot of shingle in 1980s-2000s subdivisions that is on its second or third roof. If the roof has little life left, roof first; in the subscription, if it needs replacing later, you get 1 removal and reinstall at no cost per term. More in solar and hurricanes in Florida. The metro area is HOA territory: Florida Statute 163.04 prevents banning solar collectors; the association can require approval and set placement without reducing production.

When solar in Orlando does NOT make sense

• You are an OUC customer who applied after July 2025 and you use power mostly at night: exports are worth little and there is no bank.
• You live in a condo or a home with a tile roof: the subscription does not apply.
• You bought the home less than 12 months ago: there is no history yet to calculate your savings.
• Your bill is very high, your roof is ideal and you have capital: buying can save more over 25 years. We will tell you so.

What to check before deciding

• The logo on your bill: OUC or Duke.
• If Duke, that any proposal uses a bill from after March 2026.
• If OUC, that the projection uses the Community Solar rate for exports.
• Your 12 bills and your roof type and condition.
• If you qualify for the subscription, compare it against buying with the same 12 months. Start with the diagnosis.