Solar in
Pinellas County, FL

Common Questions About Solar in Pinellas County

• My home was built in the 1960s or 70s. Will I need an electrical panel upgrade?

  Maybe. Pinellas has the oldest homes in Florida, and many still have original electrical panels that are too small for solar or are brands that should be replaced. Your installer will check your panel during the site visit and include any upgrade in the quote, so there are no surprises later. Ask about it up front with these 11 questions to ask before going solar.

• Can I go solar if I live in a condo or townhome?

  It depends on who owns the roof. In most condos the roof is shared property, so solar needs the association’s approval and usually serves the whole building. In many townhomes you own your section of roof, so you can add panels to your own unit, with HOA approval of the placement. Check your deed or HOA documents first, and we can help you sort it out.

• Is Duke Energy’s community solar program better than rooftop solar?

  They work differently. Duke’s Clean Energy Connection lets you pay a monthly fee for a share of a Duke solar farm and get bill credits back, with no equipment on your home. Duke has said it takes about seven years for the credits to fully pay back the fees. Rooftop solar usually saves more over time, and only rooftop solar paired with a battery can keep your power on in an outage. Read whether solar still pays off in Florida.

• My roof faces east or west. Is that still good for solar?

  Usually, yes. South facing roofs make the most power, but east and west facing roofs still produce well in Florida, just somewhat less. West facing panels also make more power in the late afternoon, when your AC is working hardest. You may need a few more panels to make up the difference. See how many solar panels you really need.