Glossary
PTO (Permission to Operate)
PTO (Permission to Operate) is the written authorization from your utility to switch on the solar system and start receiving net metering credit. It comes after the county inspection and the interconnection application; until then, the installed system must stay off.
What PTO is
Installing the panels is not the end of the process. After installation, the county inspects the work, the installer submits paperwork to the utility, and the utility checks that the system meets its interconnection requirements. Once approved, it issues the PTO and usually swaps or reprograms the meter for a bidirectional one.
Only from that day can the system legally be turned on, with every exported kWh credited under net metering.
Why it matters in Florida
Weeks can pass between the physical installation and PTO. During that time you have panels on the roof, you may already be paying the first loan or lease installment, and your electric bill has not changed. This is when most customers get frustrated, and rightly so: nobody told them this step existed.
Each Florida utility (FPL, Duke, TECO and the municipals) has its own process and timelines. An installer experienced with your specific utility gets it done faster than one who mostly works elsewhere.
Common mistake
Turning the system on before PTO “just to test it.” Besides breaking the agreement with the utility, energy exported without a bidirectional meter earns no credit and in some cases gets billed as consumption. Ask the installer for the estimated PTO date and who notifies you when it arrives. The full timeline is in solar installation process step by step.
Full guide: Solar installation process step by step in Florida: from signing to PTO →
Updated