Skip to content
RayValueSolar math for your home

Solar payback in St. Petersburg, FL

Below: electricity rates for St. Petersburg, how much sun a solar array gets here, and example payback for a few illustrative bills.

Electricity rates near St. Petersburg

We use Duke Energy Florida as the likely utility for St. Petersburg. Check your bill to confirm yours. Other utilities in the state are listed for comparison.

Duke Energy Florida (likely utility for this city)
ItemRate
Summer First 1000 kWh/month$0.136/kWh
Summer Over 1000 kWh/month$0.154/kWh
Winter First 1000 kWh/month$0.147/kWh
Winter Over 1000 kWh/month$0.172/kWh
Fixed monthly charge$14.43

Source: utility rate page, read 2026-10-22.

Florida Power & Light (FPL)
ItemRate
First 1000 kWh/month$0.123/kWh
Over 1000 kWh/month$0.143/kWh
Fixed monthly charge$10.52

Source: utility rate page, read 2026-10-22.

Tampa Electric (TECO)
ItemRate
First 1000 kWh/month$0.139/kWh
Over 1000 kWh/month$0.159/kWh
Fixed monthly charge$13.69

Source: utility rate page, read 2026-10-25.

How much sun St. Petersburg gets

Estimated output of 1 kW of rooftop solar, month by month, from NREL PVWatts weather data: about 1,482 kWh per year. Real output depends on your roof, shading and equipment.

Estimated monthly solar output per kW installed in St. PetersburgJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Estimated monthly solar output per kW installed in St. Petersburg (kWh)
MonthkWh per kW
Jan110
Feb112
Mar138
Apr145
May146
Jun125
Jul120
Aug118
Sep121
Oct128
Nov114
Dec106

Rooftop solar in St. Petersburg makes about 1,482 kWh per kW a year, the 5th most of the 23 Florida cities on RayValue (they range from 1,411 to 1,535, a 9% spread). Sun varies little across Florida, so your rates and bill matter more to payback than which city you live in.

Homes in St. Petersburg

Homes (housing units)
141,508
Lived in by their owner
62.8% of occupied homes
Detached single-family houses
55.3% of homes
Median year built
1969
Median value of owner-occupied homes
$371,100

Rooftop solar is usually the homeowner's decision, and it is simplest on a house with a roof of its own. In St. Petersburg, 62.8% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner and 55.3% of all homes are detached single-family houses. Condos, townhomes and apartments usually need approval from the building or association first.

Half of St. Petersburg's homes were built before 1969. Panels last decades, so if your roof is near the end of its life, ask installers whether to replace it before they install.

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for St. Petersburg city, read on 2026-11-01. See the Census table. Estimates have a margin of error.

Example payback in St. Petersburg

These use illustrative example bills, not averages for St. Petersburg. They show a solar-only system (no battery, some shading) at the likely utility's rates, with no federal tax credit. Your own numbers will differ; use the calculator for yours.

Monthly billSystem sizeInstalled costPayback (years)
$1004.5–5 kW$11,900–$17,80012.5–18 (likely 15)
$2009.4–10.5 kW$24,900–$37,40011–15.5 (likely 13)
$35015 kW$39,500–$53,50010–14.5 (likely 12)

Get quotes or run your numbers

Compare free quotes from up to 3 local installers, or enter your ZIP and monthly bill to get a payback range for your home.