Find out if you're eligible for $0-down solar in Florida!
Why “Free Solar” Ads Are Everywhere in Florida Right Now
The timing isn’t random. Two things happened at the start of 2026 that changed the solar math for Florida homeowners.
FPL’s Rate Settlement Just Made Electricity More Expensive
First, FPL’s new four-year rate settlement kicked in on January 1. Consumer advocates estimate roughly $6.9 billion in additional charges hitting customer bills through 2029.
Tampa Electric followed with a 6% rate spike the same month. Homeowners paying $140 or more per month for electricity are starting to ask what else is out there.
The Federal Tax Credit Disappeared and Lease Companies Moved In
Second, the 30% federal residential solar tax credit expired on December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That credit used to knock $6,000 to $8,000 off a purchased system. Without it, buying solar outright costs more out of pocket in 2026 than it did last year.
Lease and PPA providers have jumped into that gap. They can still claim the 30% commercial Investment Tax Credit under Section 48E (active through 2027), and they’re using it to offer $0-down deals with monthly payments below what FPL charges.
That’s why your mailbox and social media feeds are full of “free solar” pitches right now.
What “Free Solar Panels” Actually Means in Florida
“Free” is a marketing term. It refers to the upfront cost being zero, not the total cost being zero. The panels, inverters, racking, and labor all cost money. That cost is either rolled into a loan, absorbed by a leasing company, or baked into the per-kilowatt-hour rate you agree to pay.
In Florida, $0-down solar exists because of how the state’s utility rules, tax exemptions, and third-party ownership laws interact. The financing structure changes depending on whether you want to own the system or just buy cheaper electricity from someone else’s panels on your roof.
Florida homeowners have three paths to $0-down solar. Each one treats ownership, incentives, and long-term costs differently.
1. Solar Loan: $0 Down, Full Ownership
A solar loan covers the full system cost with no money down. You own the panels from day one, you keep all the net metering credits, and you build equity in the system.
The catch in 2026: without the 30% federal credit to make a lump-sum payment against the loan balance in year one, your monthly payment is higher than it would have been last year. Run the numbers carefully. If your loan payment is higher than your current electric bill, the “savings from day one” pitch falls apart.
That said, once the loan is paid off, you’re producing electricity for essentially nothing. For homeowners who can handle the monthly payment during the loan term, this path still delivers the strongest long-term return.
For a full breakdown of what systems cost right now, see our Guide to the Cost of Solar Panels in Florida.
2. Solar Lease: Fixed Monthly Payment, No Ownership
With a lease, a solar company installs and owns the system on your roof. You pay a fixed monthly amount to use it. The company handles maintenance, monitoring, and repairs.
The appeal is simplicity. No loan, no maintenance headaches, and a predictable bill. The company claims the Section 48E commercial credit and uses those savings to offer a monthly rate that’s typically lower than what you’d pay FPL or Duke Energy for the same electricity.
The tradeoff: you don’t own the system. You don’t build home equity from it. And your lease payment stays flat even as the system ages and produces less. If you sell your home, the lease transfers to the buyer or you negotiate an early buyout, both of which can complicate a sale.
3. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Pay Per Kilowatt-Hour
A PPA works like a lease, but instead of a flat monthly payment, you pay for the electricity the system produces at a locked-in rate. That rate is usually set below your utility’s current price, which creates immediate savings.
The risk with PPAs is the escalator clause. Most contracts include an annual rate increase of 1–3%. Over a 20- or 25-year term, that escalator can push your PPA rate above what the utility charges if grid prices don’t rise as fast as projected. Read the escalator math before you sign.
Like leases, the PPA provider owns the system and claims the federal commercial credit. You’re a customer buying their electricity, not a solar system owner.
How Each $0-Down Option Stacks Up
Solar Loan | Solar Lease | PPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
Upfront Cost | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Who Owns the System | You | Solar company | Solar company |
Federal Credit (2026) | Not available | Company claims 48E | Company claims 48E |
Net Metering Credits | You keep them | Company keeps them | Company keeps them |
Maintenance | Your responsibility | Company handles | Company handles |
Home Value Impact | Increases equity | No equity benefit | No equity benefit |
Long-Term Savings | Highest after payoff | Moderate | Depends on escalator |
Florida Incentives That Still Apply to $0-Down Solar
The federal residential credit is gone for purchased systems. But Florida’s state-level benefits still reduce the overall cost, and they apply whether you buy, lease, or finance.
Property tax exemption. Under Florida Statute 193.624, the value a solar system adds to your home is exempt from property taxes. If you own the system through a loan, you get the equity boost without the tax hit. On a $22,000 system, that’s roughly $400–$600 per year you’re not paying in additional property taxes.
Sales tax exemption. Solar equipment is exempt from Florida’s 6% sales tax. On a $22,000 system, that saves about $1,320 at the point of purchase. This is automatic and applies to loan-financed systems.
Net metering. Florida’s investor-owned utilities (FPL, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric) credit excess solar production at the full retail rate. Unused credits roll forward monthly, with an annual cash-out at the avoided cost rate of 3–4 cents per kWh.
For a complete rundown of every active program, see our Guide to Florida Solar Incentives.
Who Actually Qualifies for $0-Down Solar in Florida
The ads make it sound like everyone can get approved. In practice, qualification depends on several factors that vary by financing type.
Credit score. Loan and lease providers typically require scores in the mid-600s or higher. The best rates go to borrowers above 700. If your credit is below that range, you may still qualify, but with less favorable terms that eat into the savings.
Roof condition. This is Florida-specific and it trips up a lot of homeowners. Many insurers require roofs to be less than 15 years old before they’ll cover a solar installation. If your roof is aging, a $10,000–$25,000 replacement may need to happen first, which changes the entire cost calculation.
Home ownership. You need to own the property. Renters are not eligible for rooftop solar loans, leases, or PPAs.
Roof orientation and shading. Panels need decent southern or western exposure. Heavy tree cover, north-facing roofs, or shading from adjacent buildings will reduce production enough that most installers won’t recommend a system.
System size and the Tier 2 trap. Florida’s net metering rules split systems into two tiers. Tier 1 (10 kW AC or less) gets streamlined approval with no application fee and no insurance requirement.
Cross into Tier 2, and you’re looking at a $400 application fee plus $1 million in personal liability insurance, which runs $200–$500 per year. A smart installer will size your system to stay under the Tier 1 limit whenever possible.
When $0-Down Solar Is Not the Right Move
Not every Florida home should go solar, and not every $0-down offer is a good deal. Here are the situations where it makes sense to wait, or walk away.
Your roof needs replacement first. If your insurer flags the roof, you’re adding $10,000–$25,000 to the project before a single panel goes up. That changes the payback math entirely, even with a lease.
Your electric bill is under $100 per month. At that usage level, the savings from solar are small enough that financing costs or lease payments may not produce a meaningful net benefit.
You’re planning to sell within two to three years. Solar adds home value, and Florida’s property tax exemption protects that increase. But a lease or PPA attached to the property can complicate a sale, and a loan balance may not be fully recovered in the resale premium.
You’re on a municipal utility with poor net metering. JEA in Jacksonville, for example, credits excess generation at the fuel cost rate, which is well below the full retail credit FPL offers. That changes the savings projection.
The contract terms don’t add up. If a lease payment plus remaining utility charges exceed what you’re currently paying FPL, it’s not saving you anything. Run the full comparison before signing.
For a more detailed look at when the numbers work and when they don’t, see our analysis: Are Solar Panels Worth it in Florida?
What to Watch for in “Free Solar” Offers
The solar industry in Florida has a history of aggressive marketing, and not all $0-down offers are structured with the homeowner’s interest in mind. A few things to check before signing anything:
Escalator clauses in PPAs. A 2.9% annual increase sounds small, but over 25 years it can nearly double your rate. Ask what your payment looks like in year 10, year 15, and year 25. Compare those numbers to where FPL rates are projected to go.
Transfer provisions. If you sell your home, can the lease or PPA transfer to the buyer? What happens if the buyer doesn’t qualify? Some contracts include an early termination fee that can run into the thousands.
Equipment quality. A $0-down price is only attractive if the system actually performs. Ask what panels and inverters the company uses. Cheap equipment with short warranties is a red flag, regardless of the financing structure.
Who’s actually installing it. Not every company advertising $0-down solar in Florida handles the installation itself. Ask whether the company quoting you is the same company showing up on your roof, and whether they carry a Florida Certified Solar Contractor (CVC) or Electrical Contractor (EC) license.
For help evaluating installers, see our Guide to the Top Solar Companies in Florida.
Check Whether $0-Down Solar Makes Sense for Your Home
FPL’s rate increases are locked in through 2029. Whether a $0-down solar option actually saves you money depends on your utility, your roof, your credit, and the contract terms. Enter your ZIP code below to see what’s available in your area and whether your home qualifies.
Find out if you're eligible for $0-down solar in Florida!
Frequently Asked Questions
Not free in the literal sense. “Free solar panels” refers to $0-down financing options where you pay nothing up front. The cost is covered through loan payments, lease payments, or a per-kilowatt-hour rate under a PPA. The panels, installation, and equipment all have real costs that are recovered over time.
A solar company installs a system on your roof with no upfront charge. Depending on the arrangement, you either make monthly loan payments (and own the system), pay a flat lease fee (the company owns it), or buy electricity from the system at a set rate under a PPA.
The company offering $0-down leases or PPAs can do so because they claim the Section 48E commercial tax credit, which offsets their installation costs.
Buying in Florida delivers the best long-term return because you own the system, keep the net metering credits, and build home equity. But without the federal residential tax credit in 2026, the upfront cost is higher.
Leasing offers lower risk and no maintenance, but you give up ownership, equity, and long-term savings. The right choice depends on your budget, credit, and how long you plan to stay in the home.
Most Florida programs require home ownership, a roof in good condition (under 15 years old for insurance purposes), adequate sun exposure, and a credit score in the mid-600s or above.
System size also matters. Staying under 10 kW AC avoids the Tier 2 insurance requirement, which adds ongoing costs.
No. Florida does not offer cash grants or rebates for residential solar. The state’s support comes through tax policy: a 100% property tax exemption on solar-added home value and a 100% sales tax exemption on solar equipment. These reduce the cost of ownership but are not direct payments.
Sources
- FPL — 2026 Rate Agreement (PSC Approved Nov 2025): https://newsroom.fpl.com/2025-11-20-Florida-regulators-approve-FPL-rate-agreement-that-keeps-customer-bills-low,-meets-needs-of-growing-state
- Florida Statute 193.624 — Renewable Energy Source Device Property Tax Exemption: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0193/Sections/0193.624.html
- Florida Statute 212.08 — Sales Tax Exemption for Solar Energy Systems: https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0212/Sections/0212.08.html
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 25-6.065 — Interconnection and Net Metering: https://flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?ID=25-6.065
- IRS — FAQs on OBBB Modifications to Sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb
- SEIA — Clean Energy Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill: https://seia.org/research-resources/clean-energy-provisions-big-beautiful-bill/
