In short: Tampa Bay is split between three utilities, and 2024 showed why backup matters here: counting storm days, Tampa Electric customers averaged about 4,240 minutes without power and Duke Energy Florida customers about 2,500 in a year that brought Hurricanes Helene and Milton. On ordinary days both averaged under 90 minutes. The sun is among Florida’s best.
This page covers what is specific to Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Sarasota. Statewide rules (net metering, tax exemptions, contractor licenses) are in our Florida energy guide.
Tampa Bay at a glance
- Utilities: Tampa Electric (TECO) serves the City of Tampa; Duke Energy Florida serves St. Petersburg and Clearwater; FPL serves Sarasota. Duke also serves parts of Hillsborough County, TECO parts of Pinellas, and Peace River Electric Cooperative some outlying areas (EIA-861 territories, 2024; city websites).
- What homes paid in 2024: Tampa Electric 14.67¢ per kWh, Duke Energy Florida 16.63¢ and FPL 13.71¢, against a Florida average of about 14.1¢ (EIA-861, revenue divided by sales).
- Outage minutes per customer (2024, with / without major event days): Tampa Electric about 4,240 / 70; Duke Energy Florida about 2,500 / 84; FPL about 702 / 46. Statewide: 1,322 / 66 (EIA-861).
- Sunshine (estimate): NASA POWER gives Tampa and St. Petersburg about 5.1 kWh per square meter per day, a little above the state’s central figure. Our rough estimate: about 1,490 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index): Hillsborough rates hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning “very high”; Pinellas rates hurricanes, coastal flooding and lightning “very high”; Sarasota rates hurricanes and lightning “very high”, with coastal flooding “relatively high” in all three.
- Public charging: Tampa had 918 public charging ports, Sarasota 279, Clearwater 168 and St. Petersburg 157 (AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026; public Level 2 and DC fast ports).
Your utility and what it means
Tampa Electric (Tampa). Tampa Electric installs a two-way meter and credits exported solar power at your current retail energy rate, with any extra kWh carried to the next month. One catch: customers on its Energy Planner time-of-day program cannot use net metering and must move to the standard home rate. Tampa Electric’s Prime Time Plus program can include a hardwired Level 2 EV charger for bill credits. In May 2026 the utility warned customers that it “does not partner with, endorse, or recommend any solar or battery installation companies”, so treat any salesperson claiming a Tampa Electric partnership as a red flag.
Duke Energy Florida (St. Petersburg, Clearwater). Duke follows the state’s net metering rule for home solar. In March 2025 it announced two EV programs for Florida homes: a one-time Charger Prep Credit toward the wiring and electrical upgrades for a Level 2 charger (not the charger itself or the permit), and an Off-Peak Charging Credit of $7.50 a month for charging outside peak hours. Check Duke’s program pages for the current amounts and rules.
FPL (Sarasota). FPL carries solar credits forward within the calendar year, and its EVolution Home charger subscription is not open to net metering or time-of-use customers. Details are on our South Florida page.
Backup power in Tampa Bay
Hurricane Milton in October 2024 is the planning case. Tampa Electric reported nearly 600,000 outages and targeted full restoration in Hillsborough and Pinellas by October 17. Duke Energy Florida’s storm outages passed 1 million across its territory, with most remaining Pinellas and Pasco customers expected back by October 15. FPL said some Manatee and Sarasota barrier-island homes could not safely take power because of surge, flooding and tornado damage. Tampa Electric customers then paid a storm surcharge of about $20 a month on a 1,000 kWh bill from March 2025 to August 2026 for Helene, Milton, Debby and Idalia.
- For a week-long outage: a standby generator on natural gas or propane, or a portable generator with a transfer switch and stored fuel. See generator installation and the generator sizing tool.
- For quiet backup: a battery paired with solar can refill each day after the storm passes. Use the battery backup calculator to see how long essentials would run.
- On the barrier islands and low-lying coast: surge can keep power off even after the grid is fixed, and it can ruin equipment on the ground. Raise generators and batteries where the code allows, and ask about flood elevation.
Run portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house and never in a garage (CPSC), and put battery carbon monoxide alarms on every level. Compare every option on our backup power page.
Solar in Tampa Bay
Rough example (our estimate, not a quote): a 6 kW system at about 1,490 kWh per kW would make roughly 8,900 kWh a year. If every kWh offset one you would have bought, that is worth about $1,310 a year at Tampa Electric’s 2024 average of 14.67¢, about $1,490 at Duke’s 16.63¢ and about $1,230 at FPL’s 13.71¢. Duke’s higher price makes the solar math stronger in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Check your own roof with the solar potential tool and the solar savings calculator, and see what solar costs.
Get more than one bid, as Tampa Electric itself advises, and be wary of news-style ads, “limited-time” offers and pushy door-to-door sales. Read solar installation and net metering explained before you sign.
Batteries
All three utilities give retail-level credit for solar exports, so a battery here mostly buys resilience, not bill savings. Given how long Milton’s outages lasted, that resilience is the point. We did not find a home battery rebate from Tampa Electric, Duke Energy Florida or FPL. See battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging
At about 30 kWh per 100 miles, home charging costs roughly $4.40 per 100 miles at Tampa Electric’s 2024 average price, $5.00 at Duke’s and $4.10 at FPL’s (our estimates). Duke customers can also look at the off-peak credit, and Tampa Electric customers at Prime Time Plus. A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit from a licensed electrician. Try the EV charging cost calculator and read EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Tampa: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Tampa: the Construction Services Division’s solar PV permitting checklist says home solar needs an electrical trade permit, which is issued automatically once the application and fees are in (online at aca.tampagov.net or at 1400 N Boulevard). A permit lapses if work doesn’t start within 180 days.
- Generators in Tampa: the residential generator plan review asks for a site plan with distances to property lines, trees and the gas line, the pad type and site elevations; a raised platform needs a signed and sealed detail.
- Condos in Tampa: the city requires a commercial permit for condominium work even though condos are homes, so expect a longer process.
- St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota: permits come from each city’s building department, or the county outside city limits.
- Who does the work: licensed electricians or solar contractors for wiring; licensed gas contractors for gas lines. Check licenses on the state DBPR lookup (see the Florida guide). Get HOA approval in writing first.
Cities we cover
- Tampa
- St. Petersburg
- Clearwater
- Sarasota
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Tampa Bay energy questions
Is my St. Petersburg home on Duke Energy or Tampa Electric?
The City of St. Petersburg is served by Duke Energy Florida, and so is Clearwater. Tampa Electric serves the City of Tampa and some parts of Pinellas County. Your bill tells you for sure, and it matters: the two utilities have different prices, EV programs and solar paperwork.
Can I keep Tampa Electric’s Energy Planner if I add solar?
No. Tampa Electric says Energy Planner customers cannot use net metering and must switch to the standard residential rate when a net meter is installed. Compare what you save on Energy Planner today with what solar would earn before deciding.
Does Tampa Electric recommend solar installers?
No. In May 2026 Tampa Electric said it does not partner with, endorse or recommend any solar or battery company, and warned about installers who claim otherwise. Get several bids and check each contractor’s state license.
How long were Tampa Bay outages after Hurricane Milton?
Tampa Electric reported nearly 600,000 outages and targeted full restoration in Hillsborough and Pinellas by October 17, about a week after landfall. Duke Energy Florida expected most remaining Pinellas and Pasco customers back by October 15. Plan backup for at least several days.
Do I need a permit for a home solar system in Tampa?
Yes, an electrical trade permit from the City of Tampa’s Construction Services Division, which is issued automatically once the application and fees are submitted. Your licensed contractor normally pulls it and books the inspections; condos need a commercial permit.
Sources
EIA-861 2024 (sales, reliability and service territory files); NASA POWER climatology 2001 to 2020; FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); AFDC (October 2026); Tampa Electric solar, Prime Time Plus, storm surcharge, Milton and May 2026 consumer warning pages; Duke Energy Florida news releases (October 2024, March 2025); FPL Milton release (October 2024); City of St. Petersburg and City of Tampa Construction Services pages (read October 3, 2026); CPSC.