Tampa Electric (TECO) Solar and Net Metering in Florida

If Tampa Electric is your electric utility around Tampa, this page explains exactly how rooftop solar pays you back in 2026: how TECO credits the power you export, how the annual true-up works, how you connect a system, and what Florida still gives you on top of net metering. TECO is an investor-owned utility regulated by the Florida Public Service Commission, so its solar rules follow the statewide framework the Commission sets. Florida has strong sun and a stable full-retail net-metering rule, which is what makes home solar worth a look here.

According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), an 8 kW rooftop system in Tampa produces about 12,500 kWh a year (modeled with NREL PVWatts v8), which at Florida’s residential rate of roughly 15.4 cents per kWh offsets on the order of $1,900 a year of grid power under TECO’s full-retail net metering. Your own number depends on your roof, shading, usage, and rate, so treat this as an estimate and verify it against your TECO bill.

Tampa Electric solar at a glance

TECO runs the net-metering and interconnection process in its West Central Florida territory under the Florida PSC rules that apply to every investor-owned utility in the state.

Where the value comes from. At Florida’s rates, the bill offset from net metering is the main way home solar pays in TECO territory. Every kilowatt-hour your panels send to the grid offsets a kilowatt-hour you would otherwise buy, at the same retail price, so a system sized close to your yearly usage does most of the work. Estimate your roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, since production drives the whole calculation, and for the statewide baseline on system prices and payback, see what solar costs in Florida. For the mechanics of export credits, see how net metering credits your solar exports.

How TECO net metering pays you

TECO credits your exports at the full retail rate and settles once a year. Under Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065, every investor-owned utility in the state, TECO included, offers net metering for residential rooftop solar. Each month, you are billed on your net usage, the power you draw from the grid minus the power your solar sends back, and any surplus becomes a kilowatt-hour credit that carries forward. Once a year, on your true-up, the account settles up. Florida’s full-retail framework held after a 2022 bill that would have phased it down was vetoed, and it has stayed in place into 2026 for TECO and the other large Florida utilities (Florida PSC net metering). The exact true-up handling and any minimum monthly charge are set in TECO’s tariff, so confirm the current terms with TECO before you size a system.

To see how the bill credit lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill, and to weigh payback, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it. For the statewide rules behind TECO’s credits, see our Florida net metering guide for 2026.

How to connect solar to TECO in Florida

Connecting a home system to TECO follows a set order, and the key rule is that you cannot turn the system on until TECO approves the interconnection and sets your meter. Florida standardizes this process by system size, and most homes fall in the smallest tier. The general path is:

1. Interconnection application. You or your installer file an application with TECO. Under Florida’s rules, residential systems of 10 kW or less use the simplest Tier 1 process, while larger systems fall into Tier 2 or Tier 3.
2. Interconnection agreement. After TECO reviews the application, you sign and return a standard interconnection agreement and provide the required proof of insurance.
3. Install and inspect. The system is installed and passes your county or municipal electrical inspection.
4. Meter set. TECO installs or reconfigures a bidirectional net meter that measures both the energy you draw and the energy you export.
5. Permission to operate. TECO gives the go-ahead once everything is approved. The system may not run on the grid before that.

Florida requires a certified inverter that meets current safety standards, so make sure your equipment qualifies. A licensed installer normally manages this whole process for you. For the questions to ask, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.

Florida’s other solar benefits on a TECO account

Beyond net metering, Florida gives TECO customers a few statewide benefits, and a couple of common misconceptions are worth clearing up:

• Sales-tax exemption: qualifying solar equipment is exempt from Florida’s 6% sales and use tax (Florida Statutes 212.08).
• Property-tax exemption: the added home value from a residential solar device is excluded from your property assessment, so going solar does not raise your property tax bill (Florida Statutes 193.624 and 196.175).
• No state solar tax credit: Florida has no state income tax, so there is no state solar income-tax credit to claim. That is not a gap in a program, it is simply how Florida taxes work.

These exemptions follow ownership of the system and the property. On a lease or PPA, the company that owns the panels typically keeps the tax benefits and often the net-metering bill credits too, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost.

What changed federally, and what it means for TECO customers

The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Florida’s net metering and exemptions are not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a TECO customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS OBBB FAQ; SEIA). Florida’s full-retail net metering and its tax exemptions were not affected, and at Florida’s rates the bill offset alone is substantial. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.

One federal exception exists, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner, and it runs for projects placed in service through 2027, with a begin-construction safe harbor by July 4, 2026 (IRS Clean Electricity Investment Credit; SEIA tax policy). For a leased system on a TECO account you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.

How to choose a solar installer in TECO territory

The Tampa area is a deep solar market, so you have many licensed installers to compare. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any installer against objective criteria:

• NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
• Proper Florida licensing and any required local electrical and building permits.
• A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
• Real experience with TECO interconnection and Florida’s net-metering paperwork, so the application and permission to operate go smoothly.
• A written production estimate and a transparent quote that is honest about your rate and the true-up. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.

MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. For the broader picture, see our Florida solar guide and our Tampa solar guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does TECO offer net metering in 2026?

Yes. Under Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065, Tampa Electric offers net metering for residential rooftop solar, crediting the power you export at the full retail rate, 1:1 (Florida PSC net metering). Surplus kilowatt-hours roll forward and settle on an annual true-up. A 2022 bill that would have phased down Florida’s full-retail net metering was vetoed, so the framework has stayed in place into 2026. Confirm the current true-up terms and any minimum charge in TECO’s tariff before you size a system.

How much does electricity cost in TECO territory?

Florida residential power averages about 15.4 cents per kilowatt-hour (EIA, April 2026), and Tampa Electric’s rates sit in that range; your exact rate is on your bill. According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), an 8 kW system in Tampa produces about 12,500 kWh a year and offsets on the order of $1,900 a year of grid power at that rate under full-retail net metering. Your own figure depends on your roof, usage, and rate, so treat it as an estimate.

What happened to the federal solar tax credit?

The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. A TECO customer who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. Florida’s net metering and tax exemptions were not affected. See our guide on what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.

How do I connect solar to TECO?

You or your installer file an interconnection application with TECO, TECO reviews and approves it, you sign a standard interconnection agreement and provide proof of insurance, the system is installed and passes a local inspection, TECO sets a bidirectional net meter, and then TECO gives permission to operate. You cannot turn the system on before that. Under Florida’s rules, residential systems of 10 kW or less use the simplest Tier 1 process, and a licensed installer usually handles the paperwork for you.

What solar tax breaks does Florida give TECO customers?

Florida exempts qualifying solar equipment from its 6% sales and use tax (Florida Statutes 212.08), and it excludes the added home value from a residential solar device from your property assessment, so solar does not raise your property tax (Florida Statutes 193.624 and 196.175). Florida has no state income tax, so there is no state solar income-tax credit. These benefits follow ownership, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels typically keeps them.

Do I qualify for TECO solar credit if I lease or sign a PPA?

Net-metering credits normally follow the TECO account, but on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels often keeps both the tax benefits and the bill credits, depending on the contract, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. Florida’s exemptions follow ownership of the system and the property. If you want the net-metering value and the exemptions in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures them.

Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked Florida (Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Statutes), EIA, IRS, and SEIA sources as of August 2026; electricity rates, net-metering true-up terms, and tax rules can change over time, so confirm current terms with Tampa Electric and the Florida PSC before you decide. Production and savings figures are MySolarFY estimates modeled with NREL PVWatts and EIA rate data, not guarantees. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own 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; on a lease or PPA the tax benefits and bill credits often go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. 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.