From the desk
Notes for Central Florida homeowners
Shorter, dated pieces. Updated when the rules change — not left stale.
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Solar panels and Florida heat: what the cell actually does at 65 C
Short version Nameplate watts are measured at 77 F cell temperature. A Central Florida roof in July is not that lab. Cells commonly run 130-160 F in full sun, sometimes hotter on a dark shingle roof with a tight air gap. Every crystalline silicon module loses power as it heats. How much depends on the […]
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What happens when your solar company goes out of business
Short version The panels on the roof and the credits on the Duke, FPL, or OUC bill do not vanish because a contractor closed. Three different relationships were always in play: the equipment makers, whoever holds the money, and the company that did the labor. Only the third one is gone. Manufacturer warranties usually survive. […]
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Solar panel maintenance in Central Florida: what actually matters after the install
Short version Most Central Florida systems do not fail from neglect of washing. They fail from unnoticed inverter faults, chewed wiring, storm-shifted hardware, or a monitoring app nobody opens. Rain rinses loose dust. It does not finish the job on oak pollen, lovebug residue, or bird droppings. Watch production on clear days. Clean when the […]
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Grid-tied vs off-grid solar in Central Florida: what you’re actually choosing
Short version If Duke Energy Florida, FPL, or TECO already serves the house, grid-tied solar is the default for a reason: Florida’s investor-owned utilities still credit exports at the full retail rate under PSC Rule 25-6.065. A standard grid-tied array shuts off in an outage. Adding a battery (hybrid) keeps selected loads on during a […]
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Can You DIY Solar Installation in Florida? What’s Actually Allowed
Skipping installer labor costs is appealing once you realize how much of a solar quote goes toward labor rather than equipment. Florida law does technically allow it, but the honest picture is more complicated than a straightforward yes. Short version: Florida’s owner-builder exemption lets homeowners legally pull their own permits and perform electrical work on […]
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Buying a Home With Solar in Florida
What to Check Before Closing Updated 09.29.2026 Short version A listing that says “solar” is not a bonus until you know who owns the equipment. Owned free and clear usually transfers with the house. A loan is still a loan, and the balance is normally paid off at closing. A lease or a power purchase […]
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New Construction vs. Retrofit Solar in Florida: Which Costs Less?
If you’re building a new home in Florida and solar is even a maybe, the decision window is shorter than most people realize. Once framing starts, the cheapest opportunity to plan for it closes fast. Short version: Installing solar during new construction is meaningfully cheaper than retrofitting it onto an existing home, mainly because electrical […]
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Solar Sales Scams in Florida: What to Watch For Before You Sign
Updated 10.24.2026 Short version Florida is still a door-to-door solar market, and the bad pitches have not retired. The Attorney General’s office has sued solar companies for abandoned jobs, fake savings, forged paperwork, and liens. In 2026, WPTV reported nearly 750 consumer complaints against just three companies, with investigations open. The current Attorney General is […]
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Cash, Loan, Lease, or PACE: Comparing Solar Financing Options in Florida
Updated 10.01.2026 Short version Cash and a real loan leave you as the owner. A lease or a power purchase agreement does not. The federal 30 percent credit for a system you buy ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. A low advertised loan rate often hides a dealer fee of 10 […]
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Can You Put Solar Panels on a Florida Townhouse?
Updated October 10, 2026 Short version “Townhouse” is a shape, not a deed. If you own the roof, the same Florida rule that protects a single-family house protects you, and the board cannot ban the system. If the community is a condominium, the roof is usually a common element, owned together, and you do not […]
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Florida Solar Incentives in 2026: What Changed, and How to Actually Claim Them
Updated October 10, 2026 Short version The federal 30 percent credit for a system you buy is gone for anything placed in service after December 31, 2025. Florida’s two tax rules did not leave with it. The property appraiser is not supposed to tax the value the system adds to your house, and the state […]
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Does Solar Increase Your Home’s Value in Florida?
Updated 10.24.2026 Short version An owned, paid-off solar system can help a Florida sale. A lease or a power purchase agreement (PPA) usually cannot, because the seller does not own the equipment and the appraiser is told not to add its value. There is no solid 2026 percentage for Central Florida. Zillow’s last controlled look, […]
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Solar and Hurricane Season
What Central Florida Homeowners Should Know Updated 10.01.2026 Short version A permitted Central Florida array is supposed to stay on the roof. It is not supposed to power the house while the grid is down. The famous “almost no panels were damaged” number from Hurricane Ian is about Florida Power & Light’s ground-mounted solar farms, […]
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Can Your HOA Stop You From Going Solar in Florida?
Updated October 10, 2026 Short version A Florida homeowners association cannot ban rooftop solar, and it cannot write a rule that bans it without using the word. Florida Statute 163.04 still says that in the 2026 statutes. The board may pick a spot on the roof inside a south-facing arc, and only if that spot […]