Customer-owned renewable energy installations increased significantly in Florida last year

Customer-owned renewable generation installations jumped 57 percent in 2018, according to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC).

Florida allows customers to interconnect their systems with the utility’s grid. Since 2008, renewable systems have increased more than 6,400 percent, from 577 to 37,862 interconnections. In 2018, renewable system interconnections went from 24,157 to 37,862. Also, electric generation capacity from customer-owned renewable systems increased 54 percent, reaching 317,462 kilowatts (kW). That’s up from 204,755 at the end of 2017. PSC says solar photovoltaic panels are the most popular choice by customers for renewable generation.

“After a decade of use, our interconnection rules have more than proven their effectiveness at ‘priming the pump’ for growing customer-owned rooftop solar,” PSC Chairman Art Graham said. “This, coupled with the many utility-scale solar projects coming online, benefits Florida’s renewable generation for all customers.”

Florida’s utilities are required to offer an expedited interconnection agreement process so that homeowners and businesses interested in generating their own energy can do so quickly and safely. Municipal electric utility and rural electric cooperative customers also support the concept of renewable generation. Every Florida municipal and cooperative that sells electricity at retail is required by law to provide a standardized interconnection agreement and net metering program for customer-owned renewable generation systems.

The data for this study came from utility reports filed with the PSC.