Why Winter is the Secret Weapon for Solar Owners
When we think of solar power in Florida, we often picture the blazing heat of August. But seasoned solar owners know a secret: the path to $0 energy bills in the summer actually starts right now, in the winter.
While the rest of the country is scraping ice off their windshields, Florida enjoys mild, clear days. These cooler temperatures are actually perfect for solar panels, which operate more efficiently in cooler weather than in extreme heat. Because your air conditioner isn't fighting 95-degree heat, your home’s energy consumption drops significantly during these months.
This creates the perfect Energy Cycle:
Low Consumption: Your home uses less power in winter.
High Production: Your solar system continues to produce massive amounts of clean energy.
The Surplus: The difference between what you make and what you use is sent back to the grid.
Banking Your Credits
This surplus isn't lost. Thanks to Net Metering policies with utility providers like Duke, TECO, and FPL, every extra kilowatt-hour (kWh) you send to the grid is counted as a credit. Think of it as a savings account for electricity.
By installing your system now, you spend the winter months filling up this "credit bank." Then, when July rolls around and your AC is running non-stop to combat the humidity, you don't have to pay out of pocket. You simply make a withdrawal from the credits you accumulated back in January and February.
Climate Change: Why Bigger is Better
We can no longer ignore the changing weather patterns. We are seeing colder snaps in the winter (increasing heating costs) and longer, hotter summers (increasing cooling costs).
Because of this shift, we highly recommend installing a system slightly larger than your current historical usage suggests. A "100% offset" system designed for today's weather might only cover 90% of your needs a few years from now. Oversizing your system ensures you have that extra buffer to handle extreme weather without receiving a surprise bill from the utility company.
Maximize Savings with a Free Home Inspection
Solar is only half the equation; efficiency is the other. Before or during your solar installation, it is crucial to determine if your home is "leaking" energy. Poor insulation or leaky windows can eat up your solar production.
Fortunately, most major Florida utility companies offer FREE home energy audits to help you identify these issues. We recommend taking advantage of these services to ensure every watt of solar power you produce stays in your home or goes into your credit bank.
Free Home Energy Audit Contact Numbers:
KUA (Kissimmee Utility Authority): 407-933-9800
Duke Energy: 877-230-6609 (In-Home Audit Scheduling)
OUC (Orlando Utilities Commission): 407-423-9018
TECO (Tampa Electric): 813-275-3909
FPL (Florida Power & Light): 1-800-DIAL-FPL (1-800-342-5375)
Don't wait for the summer heat to think about your energy bills. Start banking your winter sun today!
