Florida Keys Electric Solar: Retail Credit, Loan Program

Solar creditYour own per-kWh chargesExcess credited in dollars each month

Average rate13.9 cents per kWhFederal EIA average for residential customers

A $300 bill needs13 to 16 kWCovers roughly 75 to 95 percent of a year's use

Good to knowUp to $35,000 in-house financingA solar loan billed right on your FKEC bill

The short answer

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) credits excess solar power you send to its grid at the same per-kWh charges listed on your bill, as a dollar credit each month. It also runs its own solar loan program, financed through your monthly electric bill.

At about 13.9 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 13 to 16 kW of solar to cover most of your use, and a $400 bill needs roughly 17 to 22 kW. FKEC serves the Upper and Middle Keys, from Ocean Reef to the start of the Seven Mile Bridge.

How FKEC's solar credit works

FKEC's meters are two-way and record power flowing into and out of your home.
For excess power your system sends to the grid, FKEC credits exactly the per-kWh charges listed on your net meter bill, in dollars, each month.
Each January FKEC can review the past 12 months. If your system made more than you used over the year, FKEC can require you to limit its exports, and the change has to be made within 90 days.

FKEC's own solar loan program

FKEC introduced a solar loan program for members in the Middle and Upper Keys, financing up to $35,000 to buy and install a grid-tied solar system, or a grid-tied battery storage system that can power your home during an outage. It's a simple-interest loan repaid over 10 years or less, with no penalty for paying it off early. Loan payments go on your monthly electric bill, so there is no separate loan statement to track, and the electric account has to stay in the owner's name until the loan is paid. Qualifying is based on your billing history with FKEC: for a home, 12 months with no late payments, disconnections or returned checks. Ask FKEC for its current rate before you apply.

What a monthly FKEC bill needs

The sizes below use 13.9 cents per kWh and cover roughly 75 to 95 percent of a year's use. The savings and leftover-bill columns use the PSC's December 2025 bill figures for FKEC, which include its $1-a-day system access charge, about $30 a month.

Monthly bill	System size	Savings a year	Bill left each month
$200 a month	8.4 to 10.7 kW	$1,560 to $1,940	$38 to $70
$300 a month	12.9 to 16.3 kW	$2,530 to $3,100	$42 to $89
$400 a month	17.4 to 22.0 kW	$3,490 to $4,250	$46 to $109
$500 a month	21.8 to 27.6 kW	$4,460 to $5,400	$50 to $129

These are planning numbers, not a quote, before taxes and local fees. FKEC credits excess power at your own per-kWh charges, so the table holds as long as the system isn't bigger than a year of your use.

How to connect solar to FKEC

Choose a licensed contractor and size the system no larger than it takes to cover a year of your use, based on your three highest months, and no more than 90 percent of your service size.
Confirm your system meets relevant IEEE and UL standards, and plan for an external disconnect switch.
Provide proof of at least $100,000 in general liability insurance.
Sign FKEC's interconnection agreement. If you want to use FKEC's solar loan program, ask about it at the same time so financing and interconnection move together.

Which utility do I have?

Your bill names your utility. FKEC serves the Upper and Middle Keys, from Ocean Reef to the start of the Seven Mile Bridge. Key West and the Lower Keys are served by Keys Energy Services instead, so read our Keys Energy guide if that is you. Compare every utility we cover at solar by utility.

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Common questions

How much solar do I need with Florida Keys Electric Cooperative?

At about 13.9 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 13 to 16 kW of solar and a $400 bill needs roughly 17 to 22 kW.

Is solar worth it with Florida Keys Electric Cooperative?

FKEC credits excess power at the same per-kWh charges you pay, as a dollar credit each month. That is one of the more generous credit structures we cover. Compare our estimate, which is a top end at FKEC, with each quote. The federal tax credit ended on December 31, 2025.

How does FKEC credit solar power sent to the grid?

FKEC's meters are two-way. For excess power your system sends to the grid, FKEC credits you exactly the per-kWh charges listed on your net meter bill, as a dollar credit each month. Each January FKEC can review the past 12 months, and if your system produced more than you used, it can require you to limit exports.

Does Florida Keys Electric Cooperative offer solar financing?

Yes. FKEC's solar loan covers up to $35,000 for a grid-tied solar system or battery, at a simple-interest rate, repaid over 10 years or less with no penalty for paying it off early. Payments go on your monthly electric bill, and approval is based on your billing history with FKEC: 12 months with no late payments for a home. Ask FKEC for its current rate.

What size solar system can I install with FKEC?

FKEC limits a system to what it takes to reach yearly net-zero use, based on the average of your three highest months in the past 12, and to no more than 90 percent of your service size. Its interconnection agreements are Tier 1 up to 10 kW, Tier 2 from 10 to 100 kW, and Tier 3 above 100 kW up to 1 MW.

What insurance does FKEC require for solar?

You must provide proof of general liability insurance of at least $100,000, and your system needs an external disconnect switch.

How do I connect solar to Florida Keys Electric Cooperative?

Sign an interconnection agreement with FKEC and make sure your system meets relevant IEEE and UL standards. Contact FKEC for its current application and, if you plan to use the solar loan program, ask about combining financing with your interconnection paperwork.

Which utility do I have if I live in the Keys?

Your bill names your utility. FKEC serves the Upper and Middle Keys from Ocean Reef to the start of the Seven Mile Bridge, while Keys Energy Services serves Key West and the Lower Keys, so read our Keys Energy guide if that is you.

Sources: FKEC solar net metering · FKEC procedures for solar contractors · FKEC solar loan program · FKEC solar loan program manual · FKEC rate schedule and fees · Florida PSC comparative rate statistics, December 31, 2025 (PDF) · U.S. EIA Form 861 utility data, 2024 and 2025 early release

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