In short: Florence has about 42,700 people and sits in Lauderdale County. City of Florence serves the county, averaging 11.61¢ per kWh for homes in 2024 (EIA). FEMA rates Lauderdale County strong winds “relatively high”. Rooftop solar here makes roughly 1,300 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, which is good for solar.
This page covers what is local to Florence: its utility, outage records, sunshine, weather risks and charging. Statewide rules such as net metering, incentives and electrician licensing are in our Alabama energy guide.
Florence at a glance
- Place: Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama; about 42,716 residents (Census Bureau estimate, July 2024).
- Utility: City of Florence (city-owned). Homes paid an average 11.61¢ per kWh in 2024 (EIA-861) (utility-wide, not just Florence).
- Sun: 4.44 kWh per square meter per day on average, from 2.20 in December to 6.37 in June (NASA POWER). Our rough estimate: about 1,300 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Climate: about 1,770 cooling degree-days and 3,470 heating degree-days a year (base 65°F, NASA POWER), so heating and cooling both matter.
- Top hazards in Lauderdale County: strong winds “relatively high”, cold waves “relatively high” and tornadoes “relatively high” (FEMA National Risk Index; overall county risk rated “relatively moderate”).
- Public charging: 19 ports at 3 locations in Florence, 18 of them DC fast (AFDC, October 20, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
City of Florence is a city-owned utility and served about 41,594 home customers in 2024; its 11.61¢ average was below the 16.4¢ statewide average for July 2026. Those are utility-wide averages, not a quote for your address; your own bill is the real number.
Net metering, export rates and incentives are set at state level and by each utility. Start with the Alabama guide and then ask your utility for its current interconnection steps before you sign anything.
Backup power in Florence
- Strong winds (relatively high): High winds knock out lines on ordinary days. A battery or portable power station handles the common short outages; add a generator for multi-day repairs.
- Cold waves (relatively high): Cold waves raise demand and can cause both outages and frozen pipes. Keep at least one room warm with a battery-run heater circuit or a generator.
- Short outages: a portable power station covers phones, Wi-Fi, a CPAP and lights; a home battery switches over automatically.
Size your setup with the generator sizing tool and the battery backup calculator, and compare options in backup power. Generator safety (CPSC): outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors and windows, never in a garage, and battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside. A licensed electrician should install any transfer switch, with a permit; see generator installation.
Solar in Florence
By our rough estimate each kW of panels makes about 1,300 kWh a year in Florence (NASA sunshine data times 365 days times 0.80 for system losses). Valued at City of Florence’s 2024 average of 11.61¢, that is about $151 a year per kW if all of it offsets your own use (an estimate, not a promise). Production swings with the seasons: June is the sunniest month at 6.37 and December the dimmest at 2.20, a 2.9-to-1 gap.
Check your own roof with the solar potential tool, see solar costs and net metering vs net billing, and read the steps in solar installation. Hail and storm exposure are worth raising with installers and your insurer.
Batteries and EV charging
A home battery earns its place when outages are frequent, when your utility pays little for exported solar, or when evening prices are high; compare in home batteries and battery costs. Florence has 19 public charging ports in the federal station list including 18 DC fast, but home charging is cheaper and easier: see the EV charging cost calculator and EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Florence: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
Solar, generator transfer switches and EV chargers normally need an electrical permit from the Florence building or permitting department, or from Lauderdale County if you live outside city limits, and often a utility interconnection approval. We have not verified a local permit page for Florence, so check the city and county websites or ask your electrician, who will know the process. Hire only a licensed electrician or installer; the Alabama guide lists the state licensing rules.
Nearby guides
More local guides: Athens and Decatur, or the whole Alabama energy guide.
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Florence energy FAQ
Who is my electric company in Florence?
Federal data lists City of Florence as the main utility serving Lauderdale County. Small areas can be served by a different company or a co-op, so confirm on your bill.
How much power will solar make in Florence?
About 1,300 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, so a 6 kW system would make roughly 7,800 kWh. Shade, roof direction and tilt change this; run your address through the solar potential tool for a better number.
Is a generator or a battery better for strong winds in Lauderdale County?
It depends how long the outage lasts. A battery is quiet, automatic and good for short outages and for pairing with solar; a standby generator keeps going as long as it has fuel, which suits multi-day events. Many homes use a battery for everyday outages and add a generator for the rare long one.
Do I need a permit for solar or a generator in Florence?
Almost always an electrical permit for a transfer switch, solar or an EV charger, issued by the city or county where you live. Your licensed electrician or installer normally pulls it. Never connect a generator to your house wiring without a transfer switch.
Sources: EIA Form 861 (2024) for utility prices and outages; NASA POWER climatology (2001 to 2025) for sun and degree-days; FEMA National Risk Index for county hazards; AFDC station locator for public charging; Census Bureau for population. Estimates are ours and are not promises; see our editorial policy. Prices and programs change, so check each program page.