Last updated: November 2026
Florida homeowners are no strangers to high electricity bills. But recently, the conversation has shifted from “seasonal spikes” to “permanent inflation.” While national inflation cools, electricity costs in Florida have quietly become one of the state’s fastest-rising living expenses, making the monthly utility bill a source of constant budgeting anxiety.
How Much Does Electricity Cost in Florida?
Avg Monthly Bill
About 5% higher than the national average of $165.57.
Avg Price per kWh
Actually lower than the US average of 18.19¢.
Avg Monthly Usage
Air conditioning drives usage about 25% above the US average of 910 kWh.
Calculated from the EIA Electric Power Monthly (October 2026 release), Tables 5.4.B, 5.5.B, 5.6.B and 5.8: residential sales, revenue and average price for January through August 2026, divided by August 2026 residential customer counts. 2026 figures are preliminary.
If you feel like you are paying significantly more for the exact same amount of electricity you used five years ago, you aren’t imagining it. You are caught in the volatility trap. Understanding what drives these costs and the options available to control them can help you make smarter energy decisions, both now and in the future.
Average Electric Bills by IOU Utility Provider
| Utility Provider | 1,000 kWh | 1,200 kWh | 2,500 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Power & Light | $140.15 | $170.19 | $365.46 |
| FPL Northwest Florida (former Gulf Power area) | $145.03 | $176.05 | $377.68 |
| Duke Energy Florida | $161.63 | $195.15 | $413.06 |
| FL Public Utilities | $170.10 | $205.39 | $434.82 |
| Tampa Electric (TECO) | $178.12 | $215.12 | $455.65 |
Calculated as a year-to-date average of monthly all-in residential bill totals (base rates, fuel adjustments, environmental and storm surcharges, and an average 6% franchise fee) compiled from Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Electric Bill Comparisons for January through September 2026. FPL Northwest Florida is FPL's separate rate for the former Gulf Power service area. Local taxes are not included.
Why is My Power Bill so High?
Florida’s More Sensitive to Rate Hikes
Residential electricity rates in Florida are below the national average, but monthly power bills are higher because of climate-driven high usage. Florida households use about 25% more electricity than the average American household, which makes us more sensitive to every rate hike.
- The Math: A 1¢ rate increase adds about $9.10 a month to the average U.S. household bill. In Florida, that same 1¢ hike adds about $11.35 a month on average, and about $14.50 in a peak-usage month like August.
When utilities raise rates to cover storm hardening or natural gas price spikes, Florida wallets feel it more than most of the country. From 2019 through 2021, bills from the state’s largest utilities barely moved: a 1,000 kWh bill averaged about $100 to $105 a month with FPL and about $133 with Duke Energy. Then natural gas prices surged. Between 2021 and 2023, the fuel charge on a 1,000 kWh Duke Energy bill rose 85%, and total bills at FPL, Duke Energy and TECO climbed 31% to 34% in just two years.
Fuel costs eased after 2023, but bills did not come back down. In 2025, fuel charges fell at all three utilities while base rates rose 13% at FPL, 23% at Duke Energy and 21% at TECO. TECO customers were also hit with storm recovery, environmental and other surcharges that more than doubled in a single year.
Florida's Cost Per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): 2019-2026
All-in cost per kWh on a 1,000 kWh monthly bill, annual average by utility
View the data table
| Year | FPL | Duke Energy | TECO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 10.38¢ | 13.30¢ | 10.64¢ |
| 2020 | 9.95¢ | 13.33¢ | 9.44¢ |
| 2021 | 10.51¢ | 13.32¢ | 11.43¢ |
| 2022 | 12.46¢ | 15.84¢ | 13.37¢ |
| 2023 | 14.06¢ | 17.89¢ | 15.00¢ |
| 2024 | 12.94¢ | 16.51¢ | 13.35¢ |
| 2025 | 13.85¢ | 18.17¢ | 16.93¢ |
| 2026 (Jan to Sep) | 14.02¢ | 16.16¢ | 17.81¢ |
Source: Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Electric Bill Comparisons, January 2019 through September 2026. Each point is the average monthly all-in bill for 1,000 kWh (base rate, fuel, surcharges and an average 6% franchise fee) divided by 1,000.
Electricity Rate Increases and Their Effect on Bills
The impact on your monthly bill has been staggering. The three largest investor-owned utilities (IOUs) serve over 80% of the state’s population. Comparing their average residential bills for 1,000 kWh in 2020 and 2025 shows how monthly energy expenses have changed.
| Utility Provider | 2020 Avg. Monthly Bill* | 2025 Avg. Monthly Bill* | 5-Year Increase | 2026 Avg. So Far* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Electric (TECO) | $94.39 | $169.27 | +79% | $178.12 |
| Florida Power & Light (FPL) | $99.53 | $138.51 | +39% | $140.15 |
| Duke Energy Florida | $133.33 | $181.73 | +36% | $161.63 |
| *Annual averages of monthly residential bills for 1,000 kWh, including all charges and an average 6% franchise fee, from the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Electric Bill Comparisons. 2026 covers January through September. Local taxes are not included. | ||||
What This Table Means
In plain terms: a Florida household using 1,000 kWh a month paid about $899 more for electricity in 2025 than in 2020 on TECO, $581 more on Duke Energy Florida, and $468 more on FPL. Over the same five years, overall consumer prices rose about 24% (BLS Consumer Price Index), so bills at all three utilities climbed faster than general inflation, and TECO’s climbed more than three times as fast.
- What each figure includes: The full bill, not just the energy rate. That covers the base rate (customer charge and energy charge), the fuel charge, storm recovery and environmental surcharges, other pass-through charges, and an average 6% franchise fee that cities and counties add. Local taxes, such as municipal utility taxes, are not included, so your actual bill may be somewhat higher depending on where you live.
- Why 1,000 kWh: It is the standard benchmark Florida utilities and regulators use to compare bills. Many Florida homes use more, especially in summer. Bills rise a little faster than usage because some utilities charge a higher rate above 1,000 kWh, so a home using 2,000 kWh pays a bit more than double these amounts.
- Why annual averages: Fuel charges and surcharges change during the year, sometimes several times. Averaging all twelve monthly figures smooths out one-time spikes and credits so each year can be compared fairly. The 2026 column averages January through September, the latest months FMEA has published.
- Why TECO’s 79% looks so high: TECO’s 2020 average was pulled down by unusually low fuel charges from May through September 2020, when bills fell to $81.46 a month. Measured from its 2019 average of $106.35 instead, TECO’s increase through 2025 is 59%, still the largest of the three.
- Two misprinted months corrected: FMEA’s February 2020 report repeated Duke Energy’s figures in FPL’s row ($128.14 instead of $99.26), and its July 2025 report printed Florida Public Utilities’ figures in Duke Energy’s row ($159.41 instead of about $184.43). We used FPL’s $99.26 from January and March 2020 and Duke’s $184.43 from June 2025 in their place. Using the misprints as printed would have understated both increases.
2026 has split the field. Through September, Duke Energy bills are averaging 11% below their 2025 level and FPL bills are roughly flat, while TECO bills are averaging another 5% higher, even after its bills dropped in August. The main reason is storm surcharges: Duke Energy’s ended after January 2026 bills, FPL’s ended as its new base rates began in January, and TECO’s stayed on bills through July.
The Cost of Doing Nothing (The 25-Year Math)
Most homeowners underestimate the long-term cost and volatility of “renting” electricity. To illustrate the true cost of inflation, the table below compares the financial outlook for a single-family home if bills stayed flat versus the reality of a 3.5% annual increase.
| Timeline | Locked in Rate (0% Increase) |
Rate Hikes (3.5% Annual Inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Bill | $325 / mo | $325 / mo |
| Bill in 5 Years | $325 / mo | $386 / mo |
| Bill in 10 Years | $325 / mo | $458 / mo |
| Bill in 20 Years | $325 / mo | $647 / mo |
| Bill in 25 Years | $325 / mo | $768 / mo |
| TOTAL PAID (Next 25 Years) | $97,500 | $151,904 |
| Calculations based on 1,786 kWh monthly usage. Scenario A assumes utility rates remain frozen at current levels forever. Scenario B applies a conservative 3.5% annual compound inflation rate, with the first increase after one year at today’s bill. | ||
Even with this conservative inflation model, sticking with the utility means paying thousands of extra dollars for electricity with no return on investment. Solar allows you to lock in your rate, monthly payment and start saving immediately.
Lock in Your Rates and Save with Solar
You can’t control the price of natural gas. You can’t control FPL or Duke Energy’s next rate hearing. But you can control what happens on your own roof.
Solar isn’t just about “going green”, it’s a financial defense strategy. It’s about locking in a fixed rate today so you aren’t paying $800 a month in 2050.
Florida’s Solar Benefits
- 1:1 Net Metering: This is the “Utility Bank Account.” For every excess kWh your panels produce during the day, you get a full credit to use at night. It’s the key to eliminating your bill.
- 0% Sales Tax: Solar equipment is exempt from Florida’s 6% sales tax.
- Property Tax Exclusion: Your home value goes up, but your property taxes do not rise to match the added value of the system.
Schedule your free consultation with a Solar Advisor and take control of what you’ll pay next summer.
