Solar Panels in St. Petersburg, FL: Cost, Payback & Savings
A typical 8.4 kW home solar system in St. Petersburg costs about $26,040 and pays for itself in about 11.3 years, saving roughly $40,213 over 25 years at Florida's average electricity price of 15.3¢/kWh.
Monthly solar production in St. Petersburg
Estimated output of a 8.4 kW south-facing roof system. May is the strongest month (1,347 kWh); Dec the weakest (970 kWh).
Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 1,104 kWh/month
Solar payback calculator for St. Petersburg
Pre-filled with St. Petersburg's sunshine and Florida's average electricity price. Enter your own bill and an installer's price per watt to see your payback.
Leave export credit blank where the utility offers full net metering. Where exports earn less, solar used at home as it's produced is worth the full price and the rest earns the export credit.
How St. Petersburg compares
- Each kW of panels here produces about 1,612 kWh a year — 4% more than the Florida median and 18% more than the US median city (1,371 kWh).
- Payback ranks #12 of 351 Florida places we cover.
- Sunshine varies little across a state; electricity price, installed cost and how utilities credit exported power drive most of the difference between states.
Net metering, tax credits and incentives in 2026
Florida offers net metering: power you send to the grid is credited at or near the retail price, so every solar kWh is valued at 15.3¢ here.
There is no federal tax credit for buying home solar installed in 2026. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the costs and paybacks on this page include no federal credit.
Florida and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for Florida and ask installers which programs they apply for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in St. Petersburg, FL?
For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 11.3 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $40,213. Verdict: solid long-term investment. Your own payback depends on your roof, your bill and the quotes you get.
How many solar panels do I need in St. Petersburg, FL?
A home using 1,104 kWh a month (the Florida average) needs about 21 panels of 400 W — a 8.4 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,612 to get the kW you need.
How much do solar panels cost in St. Petersburg, FL?
At 3.10 dollars per watt, a 8.4 kW system costs about $26,040 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.
How much sun does St. Petersburg get?
St. Petersburg averages 5.9 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,612 kWh a year.
Does Florida have net metering?
Yes. Power sent back to the grid is credited at or near the retail price (15.3¢ per kWh on average).
How much does electricity cost in Florida?
Residential electricity in Florida averages 15.3¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 1,104 kWh a month (EIA).
Solar payback in nearby places
- Gulfport11.3 yrs
- West and East Lealman11.3 yrs
- Lealman11.4 yrs
- Saint Pete Beach11.4 yrs
- Pinellas Park11.4 yrs
- Seminole11.3 yrs
- Largo11.2 yrs
- Safety Harbor11.4 yrs