Glossary
Net metering
Net metering is the arrangement with your utility where every kWh your panels export to the grid is credited at the same value you pay to consume it. In Florida, FPL, Duke Energy and TECO credit residential customers 1 to 1; surplus rolls over month to month and is settled at the end of the year.
What net metering is
During the day your panels usually produce more than the house uses. That surplus flows to the grid and a bidirectional meter records it. At night you draw from the grid and spend that credit. At the end of the month you pay only the net difference, plus the minimum charge for staying connected.
In Florida, FPL, Duke Energy and TECO credit each exported kWh 1 to 1 for residential systems. If a month ends with leftover credit, it rolls into the next. After twelve months the utility runs the true-up: it settles whatever remains at the generation rate, which is lower than the full retail rate.
Why it matters in Florida
Without net metering, a solar system with no battery wastes most of what it produces at midday, when the house is empty. With net metering, the grid acts as your free storage. That is why a properly sized system can bring the bill down to the minimum charge without a battery.
Municipal utilities and cooperatives (OUC, JEA, GRU, Lakeland Electric and others) set their own rules. If you live in one of those areas, the proposal must reflect their terms, not FPL’s. And the My Home Solutions subscription is only available with FPL, Duke Energy or TECO.
Common mistake
Assuming leftover credit at year end is worth the same as the kWh you pay for. It is not: it is settled at the generation rate, which is lower. That is why oversizing a system far beyond your usage does not earn you money: the design should start from your actual 12 months of usage. The guide net metering in Florida shows what it looks like on your bill.
Full guide: Net metering in Florida in 2026: how your utility credits the energy you don't use →
Updated