Sunprint
The short answer
The City of Tallahassee credits the solar power your system sends to the grid at the full retail value, but the credits work like a one-year bank. They carry over from month to month, and then they expire. The City does not pay cash for what is left, so the best system is one sized to your own yearly use.
At about 14 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. Any City of Tallahassee Electric customer can use net metering, and it is free.
How Tallahassee's solar credits work
- When you generate more than you use, the City credits the extra as kWh, and the credits are banked by your meter.
- Credits carry over from month to month but not from year to year. The year ends on your net metering anniversary date.
- The City does not write a check for excess production.
- The City says excess power from small to moderate-sized systems, up to 100 kilowatts, may be returned at the full retail value, including taxes.
- Your net meter registers only the net energy, so your inverter is the place to see what your panels really made.
Credits bank month to month but not year to year, so size the system to your yearly use, not your biggest month.
Your credit year in Tallahassee
The year ends on your net metering anniversary date, not on January 1. The City does not pay for credits left over.
Why size matters here
Because unused credits expire at your anniversary, panels beyond your yearly use earn nothing on the extra. Summer credits do help cover cooler months inside the same year, since they carry from month to month, but anything still banked at the anniversary is gone. Size your system to your real annual usage, not your biggest month.
Trees matter too. Heavy canopy, common in and around Tallahassee, changes how much a roof makes, so ask your installer for a shade analysis before you decide on a size.
Rates
Our calculator uses the City's average residential rate of 14.0 cents per kWh from federal EIA data. For the current charges, see the City's residential electric rates page. Rates beyond today's are not set, so any long-range projection, ours included, is an estimate.
What a monthly Tallahassee bill needs
These sizes use 14.0 cents per kWh and a system that covers 75 to 95 percent of yearly use. Savings and the bill left over use the City's current residential rate: a $10.29 customer charge and 13.583 cents per kWh including fuel.
| Monthly bill | System size | Savings a year | Bill left each month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 a month | 8.4 to 10.6 kW | $1,710 to $2,160 | $20 to $58 |
| $300 a month | 12.8 to 16.3 kW | $2,610 to $3,300 | $25 to $83 |
| $400 a month | 17.3 to 21.9 kW | $3,510 to $4,440 | $30 to $108 |
| $500 a month | 21.7 to 27.5 kW | $4,410 to $5,580 | $35 to $133 |
Planning figures, not a quote, before taxes and fees. Unused credits expire each year, so these assume you use up what you bank.
How to connect solar in Tallahassee
- Download and complete the City's residential net metering form.
- Log in to your utility account and submit it under Requests, or email it to [email protected].
- Sign the PV Interconnect agreement, which asks for detailed information about your system.
- Make sure the system meets the City's design and inspection requirements. There is no charge for the net meter.
For questions, call the City of Tallahassee Utilities at 850-891-4968.
The City's own solar program
Separately, the City runs two solar farms at the Tallahassee International Airport. Its Tallahassee Solar program let customers buy solar power from those farms at a fixed 5 cents per kWh in place of the fuel charge, fixed until September 30, 2037. It is fully subscribed and enrollment is closed, so it is not an option for new customers.
Rebates and tax credits
Homeowners lost the 30 percent federal tax credit after December 31, 2025. See our Florida incentives guide for what remains.
Which utility do I have?
Your bill names your utility. The City of Tallahassee serves Leon County, and nearby areas may have a cooperative such as Talquin Electric. Compare every utility we cover at solar by utility.
Your estimate in three steps
- Enter your billYour ZIP, utility and last month's bill.
- See your estimateA yearly savings range for your home.
- Choose what's nextAsk for a quote call, or just keep the number.
See what solar could save you
No site visit, no commitment and no sales call needed to see your number. Your utility is already selected.
Common questions
How much solar do I need in Tallahassee?
At about 14 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. Because Tallahassee's credits do not carry over from year to year, a system much bigger than your yearly use earns little on the extra.
Is solar worth it in Tallahassee?
It can be if you size the system to your yearly use. The City credits solar at full retail value, but credits carry over only within a year and are never paid out, so extra panels earn nothing on the surplus. Compare our estimate of your yearly savings with each quote, since the federal tax credit ended on December 31, 2025.
Does the City of Tallahassee pay for excess solar power?
No. The City says it does not write a check for excess production. It works through kWh credits banked by your meter. Credits carry over month to month, but not from year to year.
When does my Tallahassee solar credit year end?
The City marks the year-end by your net metering anniversary date, not the calendar year. Credits left at that point do not carry into the next year.
What does Tallahassee credit for solar power sent to the grid?
The City says excess power from small to moderate-sized PV systems, up to 100 kilowatts, may be returned at the full retail value, including taxes. The credit is in kWh, banked on your meter.
Is there a charge for a Tallahassee net meter?
No. The City says there is no charge for net metering or for installing the net meter. You sign a PV Interconnect agreement, and your system has to meet the City's design and inspection requirements.
How do I apply for solar net metering in Tallahassee?
Download and complete the City's residential form, then log in to your utility account and submit it under Requests. You can also email it to [email protected] or call 850-891-4968.
How do I see how much my solar system produces in Tallahassee?
Your City net meter only records the net amount of energy. The City says to read your inverter, which usually shows total production, and subtract last month's total from this month's to get monthly production.
Can I still join Tallahassee Solar?
No, not now. The City's Tallahassee Solar program let customers buy solar power from its solar farms at a fixed 5 cents per kWh in place of the fuel charge, and it is fully subscribed with enrollment closed. It is separate from putting panels on your own roof.
Related guides
- How much solar do I need for a $300 to $700 electric bill?
- How much electricity does a 10, 15 or 20 kW solar system produce?
- Florida solar incentives: what is still available
- Solar in the Florida Panhandle
- Florida net metering explained: why credits vary so much
- How to check a solar company in Florida
Sources: Tallahassee solar net metering · Tallahassee Solar program · Residential net metering agreement (PDF) · City of Tallahassee Utilities rate plans · U.S. EIA Form 861 utility data, 2024 and 2025 early release
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