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Tampa solar at a glance
TECO credits exported energy at the retail rate (Rate Schedule NM-1 Net Metering Service (Tariff Sheets 3.255-3.265)). Assumptions: methodology.
How Tampa Electric Company treats solar
Tampa Electric Company: Rate Schedule NM-1 Net Metering Service (Tariff Sheets 3.255-3.265)
If the customer exports more than it uses in a month, the net kWh are credited to the next month's consumption. Net export in the last billing period of the calendar year is paid on a later bill at TECO's annual average COG-1 rate for the prior year. Net-metered customers cannot use the Energy Planner rate and must take the standard residential rate.
Permits and local programs in Tampa
- Permitting: Residential solar PV needs an electrical (or plumbing) trade permit filed through Accela Citizen Access (aca.tampagov.net). The city says residential trade permits are auto-issued once the application and fee are submitted.[7]
Tampa solar cost by system size
| System | Price before incentives[3] | After incentives | kWh in year 1[1] | Year-1 savings[2][4] | Payback (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $12,400 | $12,400 | 6,270 | $920 | 12 |
| 6 kW | $18,600 | $18,600 | 9,410 | $1,380 | 12 |
| 8 kW | $24,800 | $24,800 | 12,540 | $1,840 | 12 |
| 10 kW | $31,000 | $31,000 | 15,680 | $1,990 | 13 |
| 12 kW | $37,200 | $37,200 | 18,820 | $1,990 | 16 |
Incentives for Tampa homeowners
Business credit for leased and PPA systems (48E)
Claimed by the system owner, not the homeowner; solar must begin construction by July 4, 2026 or be in service by December 31, 2027[8]
If a company owns the panels on your roof (a lease or power purchase agreement), that company may claim the business clean electricity investment credit and can reflect it in your price. You cannot claim it yourself.
- Who
- Third-party-owned systems (leases and PPAs). Ask the provider whether the price assumes this credit.
- Deadline
- December 31, 2027
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
Florida sales and use tax exemption for solar energy systems
Solar energy systems and their components are exempt from Florida sales and use tax (6% state rate plus any local surtax)[9]
Corroborated by FSEC (UCF) Energy Policy page https://energyresearch.ucf.edu/consumer/energy-policy/ : 'Florida law exempts solar systems and components from sales tax. This law doesn't have an expiration date.' The 6% rate figure is not from these pages and is general knowledge; drop it from value_text if strict sourcing is needed.
- Who
- Applies to solar energy systems or components on the list the Florida Solar Energy Center certifies to the Department of Revenue.
- Deadline
- No sunset in statute (2026 Florida Statutes); FSEC also states the exemption has no expiration date
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
Property tax assessment exclusion for residential renewable energy source devices
For residential property, the added value from a solar (renewable energy source) device is not counted in the assessed value[10]
Nonresidential property gets an 80% exclusion under s. 193.624(2)(b). Constitutional authority is Art. VII s. 4(i), Fla. Const., which says the legislature may prohibit consideration of 'The installation of a solar or renewable energy source device' in assessed value (adopted 2008; amended by C.S. for H.J.R. 193 in 2016, effective Jan 1, 2018 to Dec 31, 2037). Source: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Constitution . History: s. 1, ch. 2013-77; ss. 2, 7, ch. 2017-118; s. 5, ch. 2024-158.
- Who
- Devices installed on or after Jan 1, 2013 on new or existing residential real property. Covered equipment includes PV modules, inverters, storage and power conditioning devices.
- Deadline
- December 31, 2037
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much do solar panels cost in Tampa?
How does TECO pay for solar I send to the grid?
TECO uses Rate Schedule NM-1 Net Metering Service (Tariff Sheets 3.255-3.265): exported energy offsets what you buy at the retail rate, with details on our Florida net metering page.
sources
[ 10 ]Every number on this page links to one of these sources. Dates show when we last checked each one.
- NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)pvwatts.nlr.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
- EIA Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price 2024, Table 6: Utility bundled retail sales, residentialeia.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
- U.S. Distributed Solar and Storage 2026 Data Update (Barbose, Darghouth, O'Shaughnessy, Forrester), Berkeley Labeta-publications.lbl.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
- TECO: Rate Schedule NM-1 Net Metering Service (Tariff Sheets 3.255-3.265)tampaelectric.com · checked Nov 5, 2026
- TECO residential tarifftampaelectric.com · checked Nov 5, 2026
- TECO: Tier 2 application feetampaelectric.com · checked Nov 5, 2026
- Tampa: Permittingtampa.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
- Public Law 119-21 - Sec. 70513(a) and (g)(5) (48E); Sec. 70512(a) and (l)(4) (45Y)govinfo.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
- 2026 Florida Statutes s. 212.08(7)(hh)leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 5, 2026
- 2026 Florida Statutes s. 193.624, Assessment of renewable energy source devicesleg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 5, 2026
City data last re-checked November 5, 2026.