Home solar makes sense for Florida. Fair policies must stay | Opinion
Floridians know all too well the extensive amount of air conditioning we need to keep our homes cool – especially during these hot and humid late summer months. Unfortunately, the more we keep our air conditioning systems pumping, the higher our monthly electric bills skyrocket. And through it all, I don’t get to shop around for electricity providers to find the best rates. They essentially have a monopoly.
This led me to want to take control of my own energy needs. So I made a few calculations, did some comparisons, and soon realized there is an alternative that can remain largely immune to fluctuating electric bills while offering plenty of other perks: solar energy.
After talking it over with my wife – always a smart move – we made the decision to invest in home solar panels, and we’ve been happy solar users since 2018. But now the economics of solar for people like us is threatened because of a shortsighted proposal that could end net metering policies in Florida.
Net metering is a policy that dozens of states, including Florida, use to ensure that excess energy generated from solar panels doesn’t go to waste. If my home generates more electricity than I can use, I can provide it to the utility company so they can sell it to nearby homes and businesses. In exchange, I get a credit on my bill that I can use later on. It should be a win-win for everyone.
But later this month the Florida Public Service Commission is hosting a workshop where they will discuss removing that consumer-friendly provision. My utility provider – Florida Power and Light – is expected to make a presentation at that meeting, and I hope they’ll take a stand in support of this provision. After all, FP&L shouldn’t be the only ones who get to invest in innovative solar technologies. And right now only about 0.3% of FP&L customers use net metering – hardly a rounding error in the grand scheme of things.
Since becoming involved with my solar co-op in Manatee County through Solar United Neighbors, I’ve seen many of my fellow community members install solar-plus-battery storage systems so they can experience its benefits, namely technological advancement and power security during storms.
As state regulators consider policies on Florida’s net metering system, I hope they recognize how feasible the current policies are to bring homeowners to solar. If these policies are not preserved, Florida’s consumers would end up unfairly restricted from experiencing the full benefits of home solar and energy independence.
Had net metering been removed from the equation when I made my initial calculations on solar, I may have been unable to make the switch. Instead of making solar and battery storage unattainable for Floridians, our elected and appointed officials should encourage it. This technology will undoubtedly make our communities safer and more resilient.
While power outages from natural disasters can be unpredictable, I feel safer in my home knowing that my solar-plus-battery storage system can provide my family with much-needed stability when it comes to energy access. Not only does it provide continuous electricity to my home, but my solar system remains cost-effective during a time that could cause financial difficulties.
With Florida’s current net metering policies at stake, so is this sense of stability and my family’s peace of mind. For the sake of tens of thousands of Florida homeowners and business owners who depend on these policies, the Public Service Commission should reject any decision that would reduce the options Floridians have to take control of their own energy bills.
Steven Murphy is a solar homeowner who lives in Bradenton.