If you’ve been hearing about net metering and wondering how it works here in Southwest Florida, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most important—and most beneficial—parts of going solar, especially if you’re a homeowner serviced by FPL or LCEC.
Let’s break it down in simple, everyday terms.
How Solar Power Flows Through Your Home
When solar panels are installed on your roof, they capture energy from the sun—our most powerful natural resource. The sunlight gets converted into electricity, but at first it’s in a form called DC power (Direct Current). That power flows into an inverter, which converts it into AC power (Alternating Current)—the exact type of electricity your home already uses.
Once it’s AC power, it travels down into your home through your electric meter and powers things like lights, appliances, TVs, and yes—even that always-running refrigerator.
What Happens When You Make More Power Than You Need?
Now here’s where the magic of net metering really kicks in.
During the day—especially in sunny Southwest Florida—your solar system is likely going to produce more electricity than your home can use at that moment. That extra electricity has to go somewhere, right? So, it gets sent back to the power grid, where it’s used by others.
But here’s the good part: you don’t lose that power. Through a program called net metering, your utility company—FPL or LCEC—gives you credit for every excess kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity your system sends back to the grid.
Think of it like building up a bank account of solar energy credits.
Your Meter Gets Swapped Out for One That Spins Both Ways
Normally, your electric meter only spins one way—forward—so it only tracks how much energy you use and charges you for it. But when you go solar, FPL or LCEC will replace your old meter with a bi-directional meter. This smart meter spins both ways.
- When your home is using more power than your panels are producing (like at night) – the meter spins forward, and you draw from the grid.
- When your panels are producing more than your home is using (during the day) – the meter spins backward, sending power to the grid and adding credits to your account.
It’s a seamless process that happens every day, automatically.
Using Banked Credits to Cover Your Power Needs
At night, or on cloudy and rainy days when your panels aren’t producing much, you’re not left in the dark. Your home simply pulls power from the grid. But here’s the best part: you won’t get charged for that power—because it’s paid for by the bank of credits your solar system already earned during sunny hours.
Any unused credits at the end of the month? They roll over to the next month. So when those hot Florida summer months arrive and your A/C is working overtime, you’ve got a reserve of energy credits to help cover your usage.
How It Works With FPL and LCEC
In FPL’s and LCEC’s service areas across Southwest Florida, net metering is still offered at a 1:1 credit exchange rate. That means for every kWh you send to the grid, you get one kWh back—dollar for dollar. It’s the best possible exchange rate and allows you to get the most from your solar investment.
This retail credit structure is still in place as of now, but there have been discussions about future changes to the program in other parts of Florida and in other states. This is why going solar now locks you in to Florida’s current 1:1 net metering program for up to 20 years, ensuring you continue to receive the maximum value for your solar energy over time.
Why This Matters
FPL and LCEC still support net metering, and they’ll continue to make adjustments as solar becomes more popular across the state. But here’s what you need to know:
- If you go solar now, you’re grandfathered into current net metering rules for up to 20 years.
- You’ll enjoy full retail credit for every extra kWh your system produces.
- And you’ll be protected from future changes that could lower that credit value for new customers later on.
In other states, solar customers have already seen their net metering credits drop to as low as 25% of retail value. So locking in today’s 1:1 rate in Southwest Florida is a smart financial move.
The Bottom Line: Net Metering = Big Savings
Net metering allows you to:
- Offset your electric bill every month
- Save thousands over time
- Use clean, renewable energy
- Protect yourself from rising utility rates
Whether you’re in Naples, Ft Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Sarasota, or Port Charlotte, net metering helps you get the most from your solar investment in Florida.
Want to Learn More?
I’m Frank, your local Momentum Solar consultant here in Southwest Florida. I’ll walk you through how net metering works for your utility, how much you can save, and how to get started with $0 out of pocket.
Let’s schedule your free solar consultation today and see how much you could be saving with the power of the sun—and the benefits of net metering.