Solar resource
Your solar production in Jacksonville
5.48 avg peak sun hours/day
Monthly avg solar radiation (kWh/m²/day) — Jacksonville, FL. Bars update to show estimated kWh production when you use the calculator above.
Utility rate
JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority) electricity rate
$0.13333/kWh residential
- Utility
- JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority)
- Residential rate
- $0.13333/kWh (blended)
JEA is present in the NREL URDB. For new residential distributed-generation systems, JEA's published DG summary shows exports compensated far below full retail (fuel-rate based) while legacy pre-2018 systems may remain under grandfathered net metering. That means Jacksonville solar economics depend heavily on self-consumption, not oversized export assumptions.
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Incentives
Available solar incentives in Jacksonville, FL
Federal + state + utility
| Incentive | Type | Value | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) | Tax Credit | 30% of system cost | Federal |
| Florida Residential Solar Sales Tax Exemption | Exemption | 100% exemption from Florida sales tax on eligible solar equipment | State |
| Florida Residential Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption | Exemption | 100% of added home value from residential PV excluded from property tax | State |
| JEA Distributed Generation / Legacy Net Metering Context | Net Metering | Legacy net metering for grandfathered pre-2018 systems; current DG exports compensated near fuel rate (~$0.03050/kWh) | Utility |
Incentive amounts and eligibility rules change. Verify current terms with your installer and a tax professional before installation.
System cost
Cost breakdown (6 kW default)
- Gross system cost
- $22160
- Federal ITC (30%)
- −$6648
- Net system cost
- $15,512
- Installed cost per watt
- $2.77/W
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Tracking the Sun 2024 — Southeast residential installed-cost benchmark used as a conservative Florida proxy.
Payback & long-term value
25-year outlook
- Annual savings (yr 1)
- $1,553
- Simple payback period
- 10.0 years
- 25-year net savings
- $23313
- Assumed annual rate increase
- 2.5%/year
25-year estimate uses flat electricity rate for conservative baseline. Accounting for 2.5% annual rate increases, lifetime savings increase substantially.
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How it works
How solar savings work in Jacksonville
- Your panels capture strong North Florida sun Using NREL PVWatts inputs for Jacksonville (30.3322, -81.6557), an 8 kW premium roof-mount system at 20° tilt and 14% losses produces about 11,645 kWh per year. Jacksonville's annual solar resource is strong enough to support solid payback even before assuming rate escalation.
- Your inverter converts DC to AC for the home The inverter turns DC panel output into usable AC electricity for the house. Because Jacksonville sits in Florida's hurricane and high-wind environment, panel rails, attachments, and roof penetrations must be engineered to meet the Florida Building Code wind-load requirements for the actual site exposure.
- You offset JEA retail purchases first Every kilowatt-hour your system produces while the house is consuming power offsets electricity you would otherwise buy from JEA at an effective residential rate around $0.13333/kWh. That self-consumed energy is where most of the Jacksonville value comes from.
- Excess generation is less valuable than full-retail net metering For newer JEA distributed-generation customers, exported energy is not the same as classic full-retail net metering. JEA's published DG summary shows sold energy near the fuel-rate component, so right-sizing the array and managing daytime load matter more than in retail-credit utilities.
- You claim the federal credit and Florida tax exemptions On a modeled $22,160 installed cost, the 30% federal ITC is worth about $6,648, reducing net cost to roughly $15,512. Florida also exempts eligible residential PV from sales tax and shields the added home value from property tax, improving the long-run economics even further.
- Savings compound as utility rates rise At current assumptions, the Jacksonville 8 kW baseline saves about $1,553 in year one with simple payback around 10 years. If JEA rates rise over time, total lifetime savings improve materially beyond the flat-rate baseline shown here.
FAQ
Common solar savings questions for Jacksonville, FL
How much can I save with solar panels in Jacksonville, FL?
Using NREL PVWatts for an 8 kW premium roof-mount system in Jacksonville, the baseline output is about 11,645 kWh/year. At an effective JEA residential rate of roughly $0.13333/kWh, that's about $1,553 in first-year bill savings, with a net post-ITC system cost near $15,512 and simple payback around 10 years.
Is JEA in the NREL utility rate database?
Yes. Jacksonville Electric Authority appears in the NREL/OpenEI U.S. Utility Rate Database (URDB) under EIA utility ID 9617, including an RS Residential Electric schedule.
Does JEA offer full retail net metering for new solar systems?
Not in the simple way many homeowners assume. JEA still references grandfathered net-metering treatment for older pre-2018 systems, but current residential projects are handled under JEA's distributed-generation policy, where exported energy is valued much lower than avoided retail consumption. That makes self-consumption and system sizing more important in Jacksonville than in classic retail-credit markets.
What Florida solar incentives apply in Jacksonville?
The big ones are the 30% federal ITC, Florida's sales tax exemption for eligible solar equipment, and Florida's residential property tax exemption for the value added by PV. Florida does not offer a state income tax credit for residential solar.
Does hurricane design matter for Jacksonville solar?
Yes. It matters a lot. In Jacksonville, rooftop solar mounting, roof attachments, uplift resistance, and edge-zone detailing need to comply with the Florida Building Code wind-load requirements for the actual site. Coastal/open-water exposure can be harsher than more inland neighborhoods, so good structural engineering is part of the value, not an optional extra.
How much does an 8 kW solar system cost in Jacksonville?
Using a conservative installed-cost assumption of $2.77/W, an 8 kW Jacksonville system prices at about $22,160 before incentives. After the 30% federal ITC, the modeled net cost is about $15,512, before considering Florida's sales-tax and property-tax advantages.
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Jacksonville?
Yes. Jacksonville solar work typically requires electrical and building permit review through the consolidated city-county permitting system, and the installation must satisfy Florida code requirements for structural attachment, electrical work, and wind loading.
Sources
Data sources and freshness
- https://developer.nrel.gov/docs/solar/pvwatts/v8/
- https://apps.openei.org/USURDB/rate/view/67e5b3cfbcf73241f80f6e10
- https://www.jea.com/environment/solar_options/distributed_generation/apply_for_distributed_generation/
- https://www.jea.com/solar/
- https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/196.175
- https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/212.08
- https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics
- https://emp.lbl.gov/tracking-the-sun
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Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only — not financial or investment advice. Solar savings depend on actual shading, roof orientation, energy usage patterns, rate changes, and equipment performance. Consult a licensed installer and a tax professional before making purchasing decisions. Verify incentive eligibility with official sources. Data last verified 2026-04-17.