Solar Power

Welcome to SECO Energy’s Solar Power hub – your trusted resource for exploring solar energy options. Whether you are beginning to learn about solar or considering next steps, we’re here to provide clear, reliable information to support your decision-making. Below, you will find tools to help evaluate your home’s solar potential, guidance on interconnection requirements, and an overview of our net billing program, which can help offset a portion of your energy costs over time.

Is Solar Right for You?

Interconnection Process

Selecting Your System

Required Documentation

Net Billing

Is Solar Right for You?

If you're considering installing a solar energy system to reduce your electricity usage, SECO Energy offers free solar assessments for our members. Our goal is to help you understand how much energy your system needs to produce annually to offset your current usage. From there, it's up to you and your chosen solar installer to properly size and design the system based on that information.

Think about answering these questions below:

Solar Interconnection Process - What to Expect

Transitioning to solar energy is an exciting investment, and understanding the steps to get your system online is key to a smooth experience. At SECO Energy, we’ve designed a structured interconnection process to ensure your system is safe, compliant, and ready to power your home efficiently.

From your initial research to the moment you receive Permission to Operate (PTO), here is a step-by-step guide on what to expect during your solar journey.

Get Informed: Start by researching solar energy, requesting a solar assessment from SECO Energy, and collecting quotes from multiple licensed contractors. This ensures you're making an informed decision before hiring a contractor.

Application & Verification: Your contractor submits the solar application online on your behalf. SECO will contact you to confirm the details and get your approval to bill the application fee to your account. Contractors often cover application fees, but payment arrangements are between you and your contractor. The contractor typically handles uploading all required documents and photos, which SECO will review for approval.

Permitting & Installation: The contractor usually manages the permitting process, installs the system, and coordinates any required city or county inspections. This phase generally takes 2–3 weeks, depending on local regulations and contractor availability.

Final Review & System Approval: Once installation is complete, the contractor typically uploads the final documents and photos to SECO. Allow five to seven business days for SECO to review and approve the submission. You will be required to sign an Interconnection Agreement before SECO provides permission to operate the installed solar system.

Selecting Your Solar System

Choosing the right solar system is a significant decision that impacts both your home's energy efficiency and your long-term savings. To ensure you select a setup that meets your specific needs, it is important to understand how system sizing, energy production, and local requirements work together. The following will help you navigate these initial considerations so you can move forward with confidence.

A common residential size in Florida is a five-kilowatt (kW) solar system. A five-kW system can potentially produce up to 4,250 watts (there is typically a 15% loss converting DC power to AC power). Are you trying to lower your utility-supplied power or eliminate it altogether? Be mindful that systems over 10 kW (AC) require owners to hold a $1 million liability insurance policy.

SECO can conduct a solar assessment and tell you how much your system needs to produce on average per year to reach your desired result based on your last 12-month consumption history.

Still not sure what size system you want? Find a qualified contractor to help you or contact a SECO Solar Expert by email.

Required Documentation

Effective May 1, 2024, all applications for new solar interconnections will be subject to an Interconnection Application Fee. The fee varies by system size. All applications submitted for a solar system modification will also be subject to an application fee. Permission to operate the system will not be issued until all fees are paid.

Application fees for each tier:

Tier 1 $500
Tier 2 $750
Tier 3 $1000
Modification $500

*Please Note: Any change in configuration of a previously approved interconnected system requires the submittal of a modification application and will have to go through the application process before permission to operate (PTO) is granted.

To interconnect with SECO Energy’s electric system, read the updated Interconnection Standards. Several documents are required and will need approval before an Interconnection Agreement is sent to the member for signature.

An applicant will need to submit the following:

One-Line Diagram – This is a simple drawing of your planned solar array orientation, interconnection point, and the disconnect switch location with its proximity to the meter (must be located within five feet). View example.
System Photos (equipment wall, meter, meter with disconnect, inverters, panels, and interconnection point)
Copy of approved County, State, or City electric permit(s)
Proof of insurance in accordance with Interconnection Agreement for Customer-Owned RGS Florida Administrative Code page 3, Article 8 (not applicable if 10 kW or less)

Insurance requirements per the Florida Administrative Code are based on system size:

Tier 1: (Generating Facilities ≤ 10 kW Alternating Current) – Per the Florida Administrative Code: “The investor-owned utility shall not require liability insurance for Tier 1. The investor-owned utility may include in the Interconnection Agreement a recommendation that Tier 1 customers carry an appropriate level of liability insurance.”
Tier 2: (Generating Facilities ˃ 10 kW and ≤ 100 kW Alternating Current) – Per the Florida Administrative Code: “A requirement for general liability insurance for personal and property damage, or sufficient guarantee and proof of self-insurance, in the amount of no more than $1 million for Tier 2.”
Tier 3: (Generating Facilities ˃ 100 KW and ≤ 2 MW Alternating Current) – Per the Florida Administrative Code: “A requirement for general liability insurance for personal and property damage, or sufficient guarantee and proof of self-insurance, in the amount of no more than $2 million for Tier 3.”
Rate Tariff: Read the full tariff related to net metering.

Net Billing Explained

Net Billing allows homeowners who install solar systems to sell back their unused production to the utility at a wholesale rate. Members who produce more energy with their solar system than they use generate power back into SECO’s electric distribution system, making them in essence small-scale wholesale power providers. Thus, they are credited by SECO for the power their solar systems produce at SECO’s wholesale rate.

SECO Energy requires installation of an AMI Wi-Fi-enabled bi-directional meter for all solar arrays that are interconnected to SECO’s electrical grid.

Have you done your homework and fully researched what it means to install and maintain a solar system?

Check out our list of resources:

Ask a Solar Expert

SECO Energy can conduct a solar assessment to help you determine if your home is suitable for solar. The assessment reviews your previous energy usage to assist you in sizing a solar array that will potentially reduce your utility-supplied power consumption based on your desired results. Also included in the assessment is information about panels, inverters, roof orientation, solar billing, net metering, insurance requirements, energy-efficiency suggestions, FAQs, and more.

SECO Energy wants to be your trusted energy advisor. Ask a Solar Expert today!