FPL in 2026: rates, the $30 minimum bill, and how net metering works

FPL (Florida Power & Light) is the electric utility for most of Florida and the one with the most solar customers. In 2026 it charges a $10.52 monthly base charge, roughly 11.5¢ for each of your first 1,000 kWh (everything added up, before taxes) and a $30 minimum bill. Its net metering credits 1 to 1, rolls surplus month to month and settles it in December at a low generation rate.

Who does FPL serve?

FPL serves more than 6 million customer accounts and about 12 million people in Florida, per its company profile. It is the utility for all of South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach), the east coast up to the north, much of the southwest and, since 2022, the northwest under the FPL Northwest FL brand.

If you live in Miami, Hialeah, Kendall, Homestead, Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach, your bill says FPL. We have a local page for each: Miami, Hialeah, Kendall, Homestead, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

How much does FPL charge per kWh in 2026?

The residential RS-1 rate effective September 2026 is a fixed charge plus several per-kWh charges. This is what the official rate sheet shows:

The totals are our own arithmetic on the published components; gross receipts tax, the municipal franchise fee and the public service tax for your city come on top. FPL reported that the typical 1,000 kWh bill rose from $134.14 to $136.64 in January 2026. EnergySage, using real customer bills, reports a statewide average of 16¢/kWh in 2026; the gap is taxes plus the households that go past 1,000 kWh and pay the higher block.

A kWh (kilowatt-hour) is the unit of energy your meter counts: a 1 kW air-conditioning unit running for one hour uses 1 kWh.

What is FPL’s $30 minimum bill?

The minimum bill guarantees every customer pays at least $30 for the base portion of service, even when they barely draw from the grid. It applies only to the base charge plus base energy; fuel, clauses and taxes are added separately. FPL’s PDF explains it this way: if your base charges fall below the minimum, a “Minimum base bill charge” line fills the gap, and that line drops to $0 as soon as your base usage exceeds the minimum.

For a home with panels, this is what you will see in a month where you exported more than you used: $30 of base, plus fuel and clauses on the little you bought, plus taxes. That is why E-Minded offers a Minimum Bill Guarantee and never promises a zero bill. Every line is explained in how to read your FPL bill.

Heads up: FPL’s explainer PDF still shows $25 examples because it was written before the adjustment; the September 2026 rate sheet and the net metering FAQ say $30. If a salesperson promises “$25 a month and nothing else,” they are using an old number and skipping taxes.

How does net metering work with FPL?

FPL credits each kWh you export at the same value as a kWh you consume. Net metering is the arrangement where your bidirectional meter subtracts what you produce from what you buy. The concrete rules, which come from Florida PSC Rule 25-6.065 and FPL’s guidelines:

• Monthly credit: if you produce more than you use, the surplus kWh is applied to next month’s bill.
• Annual true-up: the kWh still in your bank when FPL reads the meter in December are paid as a credit on that bill at the COG-1 rate, FPL’s average annual cost of generation. It is a fraction of what you pay per kWh.
• Design cap: the system must be estimated to produce less than 115% of your annual consumption and cannot exceed 90% of your electric service capacity; going over means extra FPL costs.
• Tiers and fees: Tier 1 (10 kW or less) no fee, no insurance; Tier 2 (over 10 up to 100 kW) $400 fee and $1 million liability policy; Tier 3 (over 100 kW up to 2 MW) $1,000 fee and $2 million. The PSC rule sets the insurance ceilings; FPL sets the fees.
• Meter: FPL installs the bidirectional meter at no cost. Turning the system on before it is installed is prohibited and produces wrong readings.
• Tier 2 and 3 also need a visible, lockable manual disconnect switch next to the meter.

The full guide to how the credit is applied and why a bill can come out negative is in net metering in Florida.

Does FPL have a Time-of-Use rate?

Yes, the RTR-1 rider is voluntary. FPL describes it as about 26¢/kWh on-peak and about 9¢ off-peak, with these weekday windows: in summer (April through October) noon to 9 PM; in winter (November through March) 6 to 10 AM and 6 to 10 PM. Weekends and holidays are all off-peak. It requires a one-year commitment, a meter change and about three months to activate; it cannot be combined with FPL On Call or Budget Billing.

With panels it can be interesting because in summer you export right at the peak. But if the family gets home at 5 PM and turns everything on, the peak eats the savings. It is a decision made with your 12 bills, not from a brochure.

How do I download my FPL bill?

Log in at fpl.com (My Account → View Bill). There you can see the current bill, payment history and download each month’s PDF. For a real diagnosis we need 12 months: FPL keeps the history, and Energy Manager shows hourly usage if you have a smart meter. If you prefer paper, page 2 of the bill has the 13-month kWh chart, which is what we use for sizing.

What does this mean for sizing your system?

With FPL the right design covers your annual consumption with a small margin, not the biggest array that fits on the roof. December’s surplus is worth little (COG-1), the $30 minimum bill does not go away, and the 115% cap is a rule. That is why E-Minded designs at ~110%: enough so a hotter summer does not leave you short, without giving production away. Real per-watt prices are in solar panel cost in Florida 2026 and the no-debt option in solar subscription; in FPL territory in South Florida the subscription is not available yet, so the path is traditional solar.

When solar does NOT make sense with FPL

• Your bill is under about $100: the $30 minimum bill plus taxes eats a large share of the savings.
• Your roof has less than 4-5 years of life left: roof first, then panels; in South Florida that includes hurricanes and the HVHZ code.
• You use almost everything at night and will not change habits: net metering compensates, but every kWh left over at year end is paid cheaply.
• You plan to sell within 2 years and are carrying a long loan: the buyer inherits the debt.

What to check before deciding

• Your 12 FPL bills, not a neighborhood average: that is where the real size comes from.
• That the proposal produces less than 115% of your annual use and respects 90% of your service.
• That projected savings subtract the $30 minimum bill, fuel and taxes.
• That the installer files the interconnection before turning anything on.
• If they offer TOU, ask for the analysis with your real hourly usage.