Florida Electricity Rates
Rate data for Florida is being refreshed. The regulator and market facts below are current; figures return with the next data load.
Can you choose your electricity supplier in Florida?
No. Florida has not opened its residential electricity market to competition, so the utility that delivers your power also sells it. Its prices are set in rate cases before the Florida Public Service Commission, and the rate you pay depends on which utility serves your address, your rate schedule, and the season.
Grid operator: No RTO; Florida Reliability Coordinating Council. Wholesale power costs flow through to retail bills on the regulator's schedule rather than month to month, which is why regulated-state rates move more slowly than the market-based states listed below.
Want to shop for a supplier? Retail choice is open on this site in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington DC.
Florida has no supplier choice and one utility, FPL, serves 6 million accounts across 43 counties, so for most movers 'setting up electricity' means a same-day FPL order with a credit-scored deposit capped by state law at two months of projected bills, and then watching for PSC-approved hurricane surcharges ($12 to $32 per 1,000 kWh after the 2024 storms) that run 12 to 18 months and are later trued up.
Who will deliver your power in Florida
The utility is fixed by your address. These are the largest in the state, with what each says it needs from a new customer.
Florida Power & Light (FPL)investor-owned
Customers across Florida, including Northwest Florida served under the 'FPL Northwest FL' banner; the PSC counts 43 counties. About more than 6 million customer accounts, about 12 million people (per FPL).
FPL asks for the service address, a preferred start date, and a Social Security, driver's license or social insurance number (another verifiable ID can be uploaded if none is available); service is typically connected the same day if the order is in by 12 p.m. Mon-Sat, otherwise the next business day. FPL uses a credit scoring system to decide whether a deposit is needed; if one is required it equals two months' expected electric use at the home, earns 2% interest after six months, and is refunded with interest when the account closes or after 23 months of consecutive service with no more than one late payment in the past 12 months (and no returned check, disconnection for nonpayment, meter tampering or fraudulent use).
Start service with Florida Power & Light →Sources: fpl.com, fpl.com, fpl.com, floridapsc.com, fpl.com
Duke Energy Floridainvestor-owned
A 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida, per Duke's fast-facts sheet. About 2.1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers (per Duke Energy fast facts); PSC says more than 2 million.
Duke's Start, Stop or Move page offers Start My Service, Move Service to New Address, a Security Deposit resource and a Welcome Kit; the page itself states no Florida deposit amounts, so none are recorded here.
Start service with Duke Energy Florida →Sources: duke-energy.com, duke-energy.com, floridapsc.com
Tampa Electric (TECO)investor-owned
About 2,000 square miles of West Central Florida: Hillsborough County and parts of Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties. About approximately 860,000 customers (per Tampa Electric).
An initial security deposit may be required based on credit history; if required it is generally about two months of expected service at the address (example: a $100 average bill means roughly a $200 deposit), due with the first bill, earning 2% simple interest, and refundable generally after 23 consecutive months with no more than one late payment. The deposit can be waived through a soft credit check with Experian and/or TransUnion using your Social Security number (lift any credit freeze first) or with a qualified residential guarantor.
Start service with Tampa Electric →Sources: tampaelectric.com, tampaelectric.com, floridapsc.com
JEA (Jacksonville)municipal
Jacksonville and Northeast Florida; a 905-square-mile electric service area. About 541,076 electric customers (per JEA, data as of 12/31/2024).
JEA asks for your Social Security number plus a U.S. driver's license or state ID (without an SSN you need two forms of government-issued photo ID) and consent to a credit check; requests made before 2:00 p.m. start by close of business that day, later requests the next business day, and online starts must be within 30 days. If credit does not qualify for a waiver, the deposit is two times the premise's average monthly bill or a $200 electric minimum, whichever is greater, and a $10 connection fee ($25 if ordered after noon for same-day) is charged to all customers.
Start service with JEA →Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)municipal
Orlando and surrounding Central Florida, including St. Cloud.
Start service through a myOUC online account or by calling (407) 423-9018; a $25 connection charge goes on the first bill and a deposit may be required after a brief Experian credit inquiry. Weekday requests before 4:00 p.m. may be completed the same day, later ones the next business day; deposits are typically refunded as a bill credit after two years of good payment history.
Start service with Orlando Utilities Commission →Deposits, ID, and supplier choice in Florida
Deposits. Florida law (F.S. 366.05(1)(c), effective Jan 1, 2016) caps a new-service deposit at two months of projected charges and an existing-account deposit at two months of average actual charges; the PSC's consumer brochure adds that a cash deposit earns 2% interest if service lasts past six months, must be refunded after 23 months of prompt payment, and that a utility must give 30 days' written notice before demanding an additional deposit. (leg.state.fl.us)
Choosing a supplier. There is no residential supplier choice in Florida: the PSC approves territorial agreements and resolves territorial disputes between utilities under F.S. 366.04(2), so the utility assigned to your address is the one you sign up with, and FPL's own FAQ says that if you move to an area where FPL is not the provider you must stop FPL service and start with the new provider.
The PSC regulates the investor-owned utilities (FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO) and says each utility must provide service without unreasonable delay to anyone who requests it; municipal utilities such as JEA and OUC set their own deposit and connection-fee policies. The PSC brochure says utilities may ask for a cash deposit, a guarantor, a bank letter of credit, or a surety bond to establish credit.
Sources: leg.state.fl.us, flrules.org, floridapsc.com, leg.state.fl.us, fpl.com
Help paying an electric bill in Florida
FloridaCommerce, through local community action agencies
Florida residents responsible for their home heating or cooling bill with total household income no more than 60% of Florida State Median Income or 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (the page's current table runs from $32,155 for one person to $85,335 for eight); apply through your county's local LIHEAP provider with a recent energy bill, proof of income, photo ID and Social Security numbers for the household.
Sources: floridajobs.org, floridajobs.org, acf.hhs.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Weatherization Assistance Program (Florida)
FloridaCommerce, through community action agencies, local governments, tribes and non-profits
Households with total income at or below 200% of the national poverty level, with preference for residents 60 and older, disabled residents, families with children younger than 18 and households with a high energy burden; funded by the U.S. Department of Energy with HHS supplements.
Source: floridajobs.org
Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP)
Florida Department of Elder Affairs with FloridaCommerce
Low-income households with at least one person age 60 or older that are experiencing a home energy emergency; the page directs applicants to FloridaCommerce at FloridaLIHEAP@Commerce.fl.gov.
Sources: elderaffairs.org, fpl.com
The Salvation Army, on behalf of FPL
FPL customers in crisis, including the elderly, disabled, sick and others in financial hardship, who need emergency help with energy bills or meter-can/weather-head repairs; FPL lists the county-by-county phone numbers on its Financial Assistance by County page.
Metropolitan Ministries, the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, for Tampa Electric
Qualifying Tampa Electric customers facing a crisis; funded by customer, employee and partner donations with a dollar-for-dollar shareholder match up to $500,000 a year, and eligibility is handled by the community partner administrators listed on TECO's Payment Assistance page.
Sources: tampaelectric.com, tampaelectric.com
Heart of Florida United Way, for OUC
Eligible OUC customers experiencing temporary financial hardship; one-time utility assistance of up to $500 per household in a 12-month period.
Source: ouc.com
Duke Energy payment assistance
Duke Energy
Duke says help may be available for customers struggling to pay their bill; the page links to a Find Financial Assistance tool and FAQs rather than listing Florida-specific criteria.
Source: duke-energy.com
Programs that change what you pay
- Rooftop solar (net metering)available
- F.S. 366.91 defines net metering and required every public utility, municipal utility and cooperative to offer a standardized interconnection agreement and net metering program for customer-owned renewable generation; PSC Rule 25-6.065 implements it for investor-owned utilities, and FPL says excess generation is deducted from the monthly bill or credited within the same calendar year after you apply and get a new meter.
Sources: leg.state.fl.us, flrules.org, fpl.com
- Community solaravailable
- FPL SolarTogether is open to all FPL customers, renters included, with subscriptions in 1 kW increments, a fixed monthly charge and a subscription that transfers if you move within FPL territory; OUC SunChoice lets customers bill 10%-100% of usage (10% increments) at a solar rate instead of the fuel rate, 5.467 cents/kWh in OUC territory and 5.658 cents/kWh in St. Cloud as of Oct 1, 2025, with a waiting list when full.
- Time-of-use ratesavailable
- FPL's optional residential TOU rate prices peak hours at about 26 cents/kWh and off-peak at around 9 cents (FPL's approximation, varies by location), requires a one-year commitment and a new meter, takes about three months to enroll, and cannot be combined with FPL On Call, Budget Billing or EVolution.
Source: fpl.com
Questions people ask before moving to Florida
How far ahead should I set up electricity before moving to Florida?
The big utilities turn power on fast: FPL typically connects the same day if your order is in by 12 p.m. Monday-Saturday (otherwise the next business day) and lets you pick a future date, OUC may complete weekday requests made before 4 p.m. the same day, and JEA starts service by close of business if you ask before 2 p.m. JEA's online form asks you to allow at least three days and keeps start dates within 30 days of the request, so a week's notice covers all of these.
Can I choose my electricity supplier in Florida?
No. Florida utilities serve PSC-approved territories under F.S. 366.04, so the utility that covers your address (FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO, a municipal like JEA or OUC, or a co-op) is the only one you can sign up with; FPL's own FAQ tells customers who move outside its area to stop FPL service and start with the new provider.
Sources: leg.state.fl.us, fpl.com
Will I have to pay a deposit, and how much?
It depends on a credit check: FPL, TECO and OUC run credit scoring or a credit inquiry and may not require a deposit if you qualify, and Florida law caps a PSC-regulated utility's new-service deposit at two months of projected charges (FPL and TECO both use the example of a $200 deposit on a $100 average bill). JEA sets the deposit at twice the premise's average bill or a $200 electric minimum, whichever is greater, and offers its prepaid MyWay plan with no deposit or credit check.
Sources: leg.state.fl.us, fpl.com, tampaelectric.com, ouc.com, jea.com
When do I get my deposit back?
The PSC requires investor-owned utilities to refund residential deposits with interest after 23 months of prompt payment (no more than one late payment in 12 months, no bad checks, no disconnection for nonpayment), and FPL and TECO follow that 23-month rule; municipal utilities differ, with JEA saying the deposit may be applied to your account after 12 months of continuous service and a good JEA credit score and OUC refunding after two years of good payment history.
Sources: floridapsc.com, fpl.com, tampaelectric.com, jea.com, ouc.com
Why is there a storm or hurricane charge on my Florida electric bill?
After major hurricanes the PSC lets utilities add a temporary surcharge to recover restoration costs: FPL's 2025 interim charge was $12.02 per 1,000 kWh, TECO's $19.95 (March 2025-July 2026, one month short of its scheduled end) and Duke Energy Florida's $32.40 (March 2025-February 2026), each subject to a true-up and refund once final costs are audited. A separate Storm Protection Plan clause under F.S. 366.96 funds year-round grid hardening and is reviewed by the PSC annually.
Sources: floridapsc.com, floridapsc.com, floridapsc.com, floridapsc.com, leg.state.fl.us
Where can I get help paying my electric bill in Florida?
Start with LIHEAP, run by FloridaCommerce through county community action agencies for households under 60% of state median income or 150% of the federal poverty level, and EHEAP for households with someone 60 or older in an energy emergency; the utilities also run their own crisis funds (FPL Care To Share, Tampa Electric Share, OUC Project CARE up to $500 per household per 12 months).
Sources: floridajobs.org, elderaffairs.org, fpl.com, tampaelectric.com, ouc.com
Researched 2026-10-15 from utility, regulator, and agency pages; every statement links to where it was read. Rules change: confirm deposits and program dates with the utility or agency before you rely on them.
Every state ranked by residential rate, updated weekly: Electricity Rates by State →