How Much Does It Cost To Put Solar Panels On Your House In Florida?
Installing solar panels on your home in Florida can provide multiple benefits, including reducing your electricity bills, increasing the value of your home, and lowering your carbon footprint. While solar panels involve a significant upfront investment, the costs have dropped dramatically in recent years. For most homeowners, the long-term savings and environmental benefits make solar panels a smart choice.
The average cost to install solar panels on a home in Florida is around $18,500, or between $2.50 and $3.00 per watt. However, many factors influence the overall system cost, including your home’s size and electricity usage, the type of solar panels, available incentives and rebates, and more. With federal tax credits, innovative financing options, and Florida’s net metering policy, you can often recoup your solar investment in less than 10 years.
Average Cost of Solar Panels in Florida
The average cost to install solar panels on a home in Florida is between $15,000 and $25,000 after federal tax credits in 2023. This works out to a cost of $2.50 to $3.50 per watt for a typical 6-8 kW system. The cost per watt has come down significantly over the last 10 years, making solar much more affordable for homeowners.
When calculating the total cost, most solar installers will quote you a dollar amount per watt of solar panels installed. The wattage refers to the capacity of the entire solar panel system, not the wattage of individual panels. The capacity needed depends on factors like the size of your home, your electricity usage, and how many panels can fit on your roof.
For a typical single family home in Florida that consumes 12,000-15,000 kWh per year, most homeowners install a 6-8 kW solar panel system. At $3 per watt, an 8 kW system would cost $24,000 before any incentives.
Factors That Impact Cost
The cost of installing solar panels can vary significantly depending on your specific situation. Here are some of the main factors that influence the overall price:
Roof Type and Condition
The type of roof you have and its condition plays a big role in solar installation costs. If you have an asphalt shingle roof that’s still in good shape, it’s relatively inexpensive to install panels. But if you have specialty roofing materials like slate or tile, it often costs more in labor and mounting equipment. The roof’s age, material integrity and ability to hold weight also determine if any repairs or reinforcements are needed.
Panel Efficiency
Solar panels vary in their efficiency – how much sunlight they can convert into electricity. Standard panels are around 15-18% efficient. Premium panels with higher silicon content and advanced technologies can reach over 20% efficiency. More efficient panels produce more power in the same amount of space, but they come at a higher price. Choosing highly efficient panels can save on costs if space is limited.
Permits
Most solar installations require building permits and inspections from the local jurisdiction. Permit costs are usually a few hundred dollars, but can vary significantly by location. Some areas may require extensive documentation, plan checks, and additional permits if aspects like roofing, electrical work or construction are involved. Having an experienced solar company handle the permitting helps streamline the process.
Federal Tax Credits and Incentives
The federal government offers a tax credit known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to help subsidize the cost of installing solar panels. Homeowners who install solar panels can receive a tax credit equal to 26% of the cost of the system in 2022. This tax credit will decrease to 22% in 2023 before expiring completely in 2024 for residential projects.
The ITC has helped spur adoption of solar across the United States. Experts recommend installing solar panels before the ITC phases out to maximize savings.
In addition to the ITC, some local and state governments offer additional incentives for going solar. For example, many municipalities in Florida exempt solar installations from property taxes. Be sure to research any local and state incentives available to further reduce the cost of your solar panel system.
Electricity Bill Savings
Going solar in Florida can lead to significant electricity bill savings for homeowners. On average, installing a 6 kW solar panel system can reduce your monthly electric bill by $80-$100.
Over the lifespan of a system, which is usually around 25-30 years, a homeowner can expect to save $20,000-$30,000 in electricity costs. The exact amount will depend on factors like your current electricity rate, system size, electricity usage, and financing terms.
Adding solar allows you to reduce your reliance on the electric grid. Solar panels will produce most of your home’s electricity needs during the daytime when the sun is shining. You can then draw supplemental power from the grid in the evening or during cloudy weather.
With net metering in Florida, any excess solar electricity your system produces gets fed back into the grid in exchange for energy credits. This can help offset your nighttime electric consumption. Going solar provides long-term protection against rising utility rates.
Payback Period
The payback period refers to the number of years it takes for the solar panel system to pay for itself through energy savings. This is an important consideration when deciding whether to install solar panels.
In Florida, most homeowners can expect the payback period to be 6-8 years for their solar panel system. This means that after 6-8 years of energy bill savings from solar energy production, you will have fully paid off the cost of the original solar panel system installation.
The exact payback period can vary based on factors like your electricity costs, amount of sun exposure, system size and local electricity rates. Homeowners who pay higher electric rates or use more electricity will likely see shorter payback periods of 5-7 years. Those with lower energy usage or rates may be looking at closer to 8-9 years for payback.
Either way, solar panels in Florida can deliver a solid return on investment over their 25+ year lifespan. And as electricity rates rise over time, the long-term savings become increasingly substantial.
Maintenance Costs
Solar panels require some maintenance to keep them operating efficiently. The main maintenance tasks are cleaning the panels and replacing the inverter.
You’ll need to clean off any accumulated dirt and debris from your solar panels about once a year. Panels that are shaded by trees or other objects will need more frequent cleaning. You can clean them yourself with a soft brush and water or hire a solar company to do it for around $150-$300 per visit.
The inverter is the component that converts the DC electricity from the solar panels into usable AC electricity for your home. Inverters typically last 10-15 years before needing replacement. When it’s time to replace your inverter, you can expect to pay $500-$2,500 depending on the wattage and type.
Financing Options for Solar Panels in Florida
When it comes to financing solar panels for your home in Florida, you have a few options to consider:
Loans
One option is to take out a loan to pay for the solar panel system upfront. This allows you to own the system rather than lease it. Home equity loans or solar-specific loans can provide financing for solar panels at competitive interest rates. The benefit of a loan is that once it’s paid off, you own the system. The drawback is that you have to pay interest on the loan.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
PACE financing allows you to pay for solar panels through an assessment on your property taxes. The loan is tied to your home rather than your personal credit, and it’s paid back over time through your property tax bill. PACE loans typically have lower interest rates and longer repayment terms than other financing options.
Solar Leases
With a solar lease, you pay a solar company to install the system on your home while they maintain ownership of the equipment. You agree to a monthly payment to essentially “rent” the panels and get the power they produce. Solar leases allow you to get solar panels on your home with little to no upfront costs. However, leasing means you won’t get to take advantage of tax credits and incentives.
Net Metering in Florida
Net metering allows solar panel owners to sell any excess electricity their system generates back to the utility at the retail rate. This helps offset the cost of installing solar panels.
Florida has mandatory net metering rules, which require utilities to offer net metering to customers with solar panels. When your solar panels generate more electricity than your home is using, the excess is fed back into the grid. Your electricity meter actually spins backwards, giving you a credit with the utility company. At night or on cloudy days when your solar system isn’t generating enough to meet your needs, you simply use the credits you’ve accumulated.
At the end of each billing cycle, you’ll either have a credit or owe money depending on if you produced more than you used. Utilities in Florida must carry over any excess credits indefinitely. Most allow you to cash out any accumulated credits annually at the avoided cost rate, which is lower than the retail rate.
Net metering ensures you get the full value from any extra solar power you produce. It makes going solar more economically attractive.
Finding a Solar Installer
Vetting contractors and getting quotes from multiple solar companies is key to ensuring you get a fair price and high-quality installation. Here are some tips for finding the right solar installer in Florida:
Check for proper licensing – Make sure any companies you consider have an active solar contractor license in Florida. This helps ensure they are properly certified and insured.
Read reviews and ask for referrals – Online reviews can provide insight into a company’s quality of work and customer service. Speaking to past customers directly is also helpful. Ask potential installers for local referrals you can contact.
Get 3-5 quotes – It’s wise to get quotes from at least 3-5 highly rated installers before deciding. This allows you to compare costs and offerings. Be wary of quotes that seem too high or low.
Ask about their experience – Choose a company that has significant experience installing solar panels in your area. Ask how many systems they’ve installed, how long they’ve been in business, and if they have expertise with your specific roof type.
Verify they have strong warranties – A high-quality solar company will stand behind their work. Look for at least a 10-year warranty on system components and 25 years on the solar panels.
Go with a local company – A local installer from your area will have familiarity with building codes, permitting, and utilities. This makes the process smoother.
Ask questions – Don’t hesitate to ask installers plenty of questions before signing a contract. A reputable company will be happy to provide you with detailed information.
