Facing High Summer Bills in the Florida Panhandle?
Heavy air conditioning use means electricity bills around $195 are common for Crestview homeowners. Rooftop solar offers a way to generate your own power and reduce that monthly expense, but the rules that determine your savings are critical. With multiple potential utility providers in the area, including Choctawhatchee Electric and Gulf Power, understanding how you get credited for your solar energy is the first step.
Run your scenario: the calculator uses this city’s utility and tariff data.
Open calculatorBenchmark Cost Analysis
Estimated 2026 Solar Panel Cost in Crestview
For a typical home in the Crestview area, a 11.3 kW solar system is estimated to cost $25,425. This price reflects the full installation cost before any savings are applied. This system size is designed to offset the majority of a household's electricity consumption.
- Solar Panels Only: $25,425
- Solar with Battery Storage: Adding a 10 kWh battery for backup power would increase the total cost to around $40,425. A battery provides resilience during outages but extends the financial payback period.
These figures are based on a local average cost of $2.25 per watt. Your final price will depend on your specific roof, equipment choices, and installer.
Incentives & Tax Credits
Florida's Pro-Solar Tax Policies
While the federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026 is no longer available by default, Florida offers significant state-level financial advantages that make solar a strong investment.
- No Sales Tax: You will not pay Florida's 6% sales tax on your solar energy system, saving you over $1,500 on a $25,425 installation.
- Property Tax Exemption: Adding solar panels increases your home's value, but thanks to a 100% property tax exemption, your property tax bill will not go up because of the system. This ensures the financial benefits stay in your pocket. An owned solar system can also be an attractive feature for potential buyers if you decide to sell your home.
Net Metering: Multiple possible utilities by address
Retail Net Metering
Optional
Understanding Export Credits & Net Metering
Florida's net metering rules are a key reason solar works so well here. When your panels produce more electricity than your home is using, the excess power is sent to the grid. Your utility provider credits you for that energy at the full retail rate. This 1-for-1 credit effectively 'rolls back your meter,' ensuring you get maximum value for every kilowatt-hour your system generates, whether you use it instantly or send it to the grid for later use.
Projected Savings
How Solar Can Reduce Your Electric Bill
A solar panel system in Crestview is modeled to generate approximately $1,975 in electricity savings in the first year. With a net cost of $25,425, the simple payback period is about 10.8 years. After that, the energy produced is pure savings for the life of the system, which is typically warrantied for 25 years.
These savings come from producing your own power instead of buying it from the grid at the retail rate of $0.1557 per kWh. Over time, if grid electricity becomes more expensive, the value of your rooftop solar generation increases, providing a hedge against future rate hikes.