Net Metering
If you install a renewable system like solar panels, Florida net metering lets you send extra electricity to the grid and get credit on your next bill at the utility's retail rate, for up to 12 months. Any credit left after 12 months is paid out at the utility's avoided cost rate, and you own any renewable energy credits and can sell them to the utility. Application forms differ by utility, so check your utility's website for the right net metering and interconnection forms.
Customers with renewable systems up to 2 MW served by investor-owned utilities can offset bills through net metering, and municipal utilities and co-ops must also offer a program, so systems across many technologies (solar, wind, biomass, hydro and more) are eligible. Each utility has its own net metering and interconnection application forms, so use the customer's utility website to get the correct paperwork and follow its requirements. Excess generation earns bill credits for up to 12 months, and customers keep their RECs, which helps your sales pitch on long-term value.
The Florida PSC adopted net metering and interconnection rules in 2008 for investor-owned utilities for renewable systems up to 2 MW, and H.B. 7135 confirmed that authority and required municipal utilities and co-ops to develop standardized interconnection agreements and net metering programs by July 1, 2009. Net excess generation is carried forward at the retail rate for up to 12 months, then paid at avoided cost, with no stated aggregate capacity limit and RECs owned by the system owner; there is no dedicated funding since the benefit is delivered through bill credits. Utilities file annual reports with the PSC on customer-generators, system size, type and location, aggregate capacity, energy delivered and generated, and payments, though the PSC lacks direct authority over municipals and co-ops, and 47 of them offer net metering to residential, commercial, industrial, government, nonprofit, school and agricultural customers.
Program details
- Program ID
- 2880
- Last updated
- 1/2/2026
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial industrial local government nonprofit residential schools state government federal government tribal government agricultural institutional
- Technologies
- geothermal electric solar thermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass hydroelectric hydrogen combined heat & power tidal wave ocean thermal wind (small) hydroelectric (small)
Program summary
Utilities must file annual reports with the Florida PSC indicating the number of customer-generators and the size, type and location of their renewable energy systems, the aggregate capacity of net-metered generation, the amount of energy delivered to and generated from interconnected customers, and the total energy payments made to interconnected customers. These reports are available here. Net Excess Generation
Customer net excess generation (NEG) is carried forward at the utility's retail rate (i.e., as a kilowatt-hour credit) to a customer's next bill for up to 12 months. At the end of a 12-month billing period, the utility pays the customer for any remaining NEG at the utility's avoided cost rate. Renewable Energy Credit Ownership Renewable energy credits (RECs) are the property of the system owner, and customers may sell RECs back to the utility. There is no stated aggregate capacity limit for net-metered systems. History
In June 2008, Florida enacted legislation (H.B. 7135) confirming that the PSC had the authority to adopt the March 2008 rules related to interconnection and net metering for investor-owned utilities.* In addition, H.B. 7135 required municipal utilities and electric cooperatives to "develop a standardized interconnection agreement and net metering program for customer-owned renewable generation" by July 1, 2009.** However, the law does not provide clear standards or define net metering for municipal utilities and electric cooperatives. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives are required to file an annual report with the PSC detailing customer participation, although the PSC does not have direct authority over these utilities.
* While the PSC regulates investor-owned utilities, individual utilities have different forms for net metering and interconnection applications. Customers should visit their utility's website for more information and for appropriate net metering and interconnection application forms.
** Prior to the enactment of H.B. 7135, several municipal and cooperative utilities -- including Lakeland Electric, JEA and Orlando Utilities Commission -- voluntarily offered net metering to their customers. For information on the current net metering programs offered by these utilities, see their web sites: JEA Net Metering, Orlando Utilities Commission Net Metering. The full list of 47 municipal and cooperative utilities offering net metering are available on the PSC's website.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- MFutrell@PSC.STATE.FL.US
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
