Gaining Control Over Your FPL Bill
For homeowners in Palm Beach Gardens, the combination of strong sunshine and high air conditioning demand during the long summer months can lead to significant electricity bills. Rooftop solar offers a practical way to produce your own clean energy, reducing reliance on the grid. In 2026, the financial case for solar is shaped by direct energy savings and valuable state-level incentives, even as federal programs have changed.
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Open calculatorBenchmark Cost Analysis
2026 Solar Panel Costs in Palm Beach Gardens
The estimated cost for a professionally installed rooftop solar system is around $2.25 per watt. For a typical home needing to offset a $218 monthly FPL bill, a 12.0 kW system is a common size.
- Estimated System Cost: $27,000
- Estimated Payback Period: 10.2 years
These figures represent the upfront investment for a solar-only installation. If you want to add home backup power for outages, a battery is an option.
Optional: Adding a Home Battery
A battery like the Tesla Powerwall or similar adds roughly $15,000 to the project cost. While it extends the financial payback period to about 14.7 years, its main value is providing electricity during power outages—a key consideration during Florida's hurricane season.
Incentives & Tax Credits
Florida's Solar Incentives for 2026
While the 30% federal residential tax credit is no longer available for systems installed in 2026, Florida offers powerful state-level benefits that make solar financially viable.
- Property Tax Exemption: This is a major benefit. Florida law prevents your property's assessed value from increasing due to the addition of a solar system. You get the home improvement without the higher tax bill.
- Sales Tax Exemption: All solar panel and related equipment purchases are exempt from Florida's state sales tax, reducing the upfront cost of your system.
Additionally, an owned solar system can be a compelling feature for potential buyers, potentially supporting your home's resale appeal when it's time to sell.
Net Metering: Florida Power & Light Co
Retail Net Metering
Optional
Understanding FPL's Net Metering Program
Florida Power & Light Co offers a retail-rate net metering program, which is a significant factor in solar's value. Here’s how it works: when your panels produce more electricity than your home is using, the excess power is sent to the grid. FPL credits your account for that energy at the same retail rate you pay for electricity. These credits can then be used to offset the cost of power you draw from the grid at night or on cloudy days. This 1-to-1 credit structure makes it much easier to offset nearly your entire electricity usage charge.
Projected Savings
How Solar Generates Savings
A 12.0 kW solar system in Palm Beach Gardens is modeled to produce enough electricity to save approximately $2,256 annually. This works by directly offsetting the power you would otherwise buy from Florida Power & Light Co at their rate of $0.1557 per kWh. Your savings are realized each month as a lower electric bill, though a minimum connection fee of around $30 will likely remain.
Beyond the immediate bill reduction, solar provides a hedge against future utility rate increases. If the cost of grid electricity continues to climb, the value of the energy your panels produce increases right along with it, potentially improving the system's long-term return on investment.