Most homes inside the City of Orlando are served by OUC, a city-owned utility that sets its own net-metering terms and credits your exported power at the retail rate, carrying leftover credits forward. Many surrounding parts of the metro are served by Duke Energy Florida, which credits exports at retail during the year and cashes out any year-end surplus at a lower avoided-cost rate under state rules. A typical 6 kW roof in Orlando makes about 9,300 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts, ZIP 32801). Check your bill to confirm which utility you have, and the 30% federal 25D homeowner credit ended December 31, 2025.
If you are weighing rooftop solar in Orlando, the single most important thing to nail down is who your electric utility is, because that decides how you get paid for the power your roof sends back to the grid. Orlando is unusual: the city proper is served by a municipal utility, OUC, while much of the surrounding metro runs on an investor-owned utility, Duke Energy Florida, and the two credit solar differently. This page covers who serves which parts of Orlando, how each one handles net metering, what a system realistically produces here, and how local permitting works, so you can tell whether solar pays for your specific home.
Who is your electric utility in Orlando?
Your utility sets your rate, your net-metering true-up, and your interconnection paperwork, so it is the first thing to confirm before you compare quotes. In and around Orlando there are two main players, plus smaller municipals and co-ops nearby.
| Utility | Type | Where it serves | How it credits solar (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OUC (Orlando Utilities Commission) | Municipal (city-owned) | Most of the City of Orlando and parts of Orange and Osceola counties | Its own tariff: retail-rate credit for exports, with leftover credits carried forward |
| Duke Energy Florida | Investor-owned | Much of central Florida around the Orlando metro | State-regulated net metering: retail credit during the year, year-end surplus paid at avoided cost |
| Nearby municipals and co-ops | City-owned or member-owned | Kissimmee (KUA), Winter Park, and rural co-ops set their own terms | Set per utility; confirm the current policy locally |
The simplest way to know for sure is to look at your electric bill. If the name on it is OUC, you are on a municipal utility and OUC’s own solar rules apply. If it is Duke Energy Florida, you are on a state-regulated investor-owned utility. For the statewide picture of every Florida utility and the tax exemptions that apply no matter who serves you, see our Florida solar incentives guide.
OUC net metering: the real Orlando differentiator
Because OUC is a municipal utility, it is not bound by the Florida Public Service Commission’s net-metering rule the way the big investor-owned utilities are. Florida law requires municipal utilities to offer net metering, but lets each one design its own tariff (DSIRE Florida). OUC’s program credits the power your system exports at the retail rate against the power you pull from the grid, and any credit left over rolls forward to the next month rather than being cashed out at a low rate each year (U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center). That carry-forward is the quiet advantage for an OUC customer, since it means a strong production month can offset a heavier-use month later. Program terms and any fees change, so confirm the current tariff with OUC before you sign. For the mechanics of how export credits lower your bill, read how net metering credits your solar exports.
Duke Energy Florida net metering, if that is your utility
If your Orlando-area home is served by Duke Energy Florida instead, you fall under the state’s net-metering rule for investor-owned utilities, Florida PSC Rule 25-6.065 (DSIRE Florida). Duke credits the kilowatt-hours you export against the kilowatt-hours you import at the retail rate within each billing period, so month to month the credit is full retail. The difference from OUC shows up at the annual true-up: any net excess generation still on your account at year-end is bought back at Duke’s lower avoided-cost rate, not the retail rate. In practice that rewards sizing a system to your own yearly usage rather than deliberately overbuilding to bank a big surplus. This rule survived because Florida’s 2022 rollback bill, HB 741, was vetoed and never took effect, so full-retail in-period credit remains the standard for the state’s investor-owned utilities in 2026 (SEIA). For how these net-metering rules work statewide, see our guide to Florida net metering in 2026.
What a solar system produces in Orlando
Orlando gets strong year-round sun, which is what makes rooftop solar work here even though Florida’s power rates sit below the national average. A standard 6 kW rooftop system at ZIP 32801 produces about 9,266 kWh per year, based on NREL’s PVWatts model for local weather (NREL PVWatts v8). Your actual output depends on your roof’s pitch, direction, and shade, so estimate your own roof with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator before you trust any quote.
At Florida’s residential rate of about 15.4 cents per kWh (EIA, April 2026), that 9,266 kWh of yearly production is worth roughly $1,425 a year in offset grid power for an Orlando home, or about $119 a month. We calculate this by multiplying the PVWatts ZIP-32801 output by the current EIA Florida residential rate; it is an estimate, not a guaranteed saving, and your real number depends on your usage, roof, and utility.
See which solar programs fit your Orlando address
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Permitting and interconnection in Orlando
A rooftop solar project in Orlando needs two approvals: a local building and electrical permit, and your utility’s interconnection sign-off. Inside the city, permits go through the City of Orlando’s building division; in the surrounding unincorporated areas they go through Orange County. A licensed Florida solar contractor normally pulls these permits for you and files the interconnection application with OUC or Duke on your behalf. You cannot switch the system on until the utility grants permission to operate after its inspection, so build that final step into your timeline. Permit fees, checklists, and processing times vary by jurisdiction, so confirm the current requirements with the City of Orlando or Orange County before you commit to an install date.
How you pay changes what you keep
The way you finance solar decides who owns the system and who keeps the benefits. This is the most misread part of any Orlando solar quote.
| How you pay | Up-front cost | Who owns the system | Net-metering credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full system price | You | Yours |
| Solar loan | Little or none, financed over time | You | Yours |
| Lease or PPA | No up-front cost where you qualify | A third-party company | You still see the bill credits |
If you own the system with cash or a loan, you keep the net-metering credits and any home-value benefit. If you lease or sign a PPA, the company that owns the panels keeps the tax benefits and you get a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. Neither path gives a 2026 Orlando homeowner the federal residential credit, because the 30% Section 25D credit ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS). For the full timeline of that change, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026, and for a payback comparison read whether solar panels are worth it or see what solar costs across Florida.
How to choose a solar installer in Orlando
Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any Orlando installer against objective criteria:
- A valid Florida solar or electrical contractor license, verifiable with the state.
- NABCEP certification, the industry standard for PV installers.
- Real experience filing interconnection with OUC or Duke Energy Florida specifically.
- A clear written workmanship and equipment warranty, plus a hurricane-rated mounting spec.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote you can compare. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your Orlando address so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Who is my electric utility in Orlando? Most homes inside the City of Orlando are served by OUC, the city-owned Orlando Utilities Commission, while much of the surrounding metro is served by Duke Energy Florida, an investor-owned utility. Nearby cities such as Kissimmee and Winter Park run their own municipal utilities. The name on your electric bill is the quickest way to confirm which one serves your address, and it matters because each credits rooftop solar under different rules.
Does OUC offer net metering? Yes. OUC is a municipal utility, so it sets its own net-metering tariff rather than following the state rule for investor-owned utilities. Its program credits the power your system exports at the retail rate and carries leftover credits forward to later months (U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center). Terms and any fees can change, so confirm the current tariff directly with OUC before you sign a contract.
How much do solar panels produce in Orlando? A standard 6 kW rooftop system at ZIP 32801 produces about 9,266 kWh per year in Orlando’s climate, according to NREL’s PVWatts model (NREL PVWatts v8). Your real output depends on your roof’s angle, direction, and shading, so run your own address through the free PVWatts calculator for a personalized estimate.
Is solar worth it in Orlando in 2026? It depends on your utility, your roof, and how you pay. Florida’s residential rate runs about 15.4 cents per kWh, below the national average, but Orlando’s strong sun means a 6 kW system offsets roughly $1,400 a year of grid power at that rate (a MySolarFY estimate from PVWatts and EIA data). Owning the system keeps the net-metering credits; a lease or PPA trades those for no up-front cost. The 30% federal 25D homeowner credit ended after December 31, 2025, so a 2026 buyer cannot claim it.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL PVWatts, DSIRE, U.S. DOE, and IRS sources as of August 2026; utility tariffs, net-metering terms, and rates change, so confirm current terms with OUC, Duke Energy Florida, and the City of Orlando before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
