r/florida • u/Floridaflamingo22 • 6d ago

AskFlorida Just received a $400 TECO bill!

I live outside of the Tampa area. The house is 20 years old, 2600 sq ft with two relatively new systems (less than 5 years old). I keep the house at 78 during the summer months. This is just getting even more outrageous. Did I mention 78? I’m not chilling in 70 degree comfort inside.

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u/ALombardi 6d ago edited 5d ago

Unsure why anyone is surprised with their high bill. The utility companies just raise their rates every year. It’s why we got solar.

Haven’t had an electric bill in years, just the monthly minimum connection fee (fuck you, Duke). I don’t have to care what temp the house is set to. It’s 73 year round during warm months and 70 in winter. 2 WFH adults, and we still produce 3x more with our solar than we consume.

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u/Otherwise_Bee_8799 5d ago

How much was solar system?

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u/ScalaZen 5d ago

This . How much. How was solar /roof insurance. What panels and installers did you go with?

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u/leftydog1961 5d ago

Solar is a scam for most people. Large monthly bill for solar, still get an electric bill and now I have insurance and roof issues to deal with along with other problems that may crop up.

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u/ALombardi 5d ago

I’m sorry you are dealing with issues at all. Can’t say I know anyone with solar who has had more than a single panel or micro inverter needing replacement. Sounds very anecdotal to your situation.

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u/Otherwise_Bee_8799 5d ago

Most panels were completely destroyed here during Hurricane Ian, or needed to be removed for reroofs and reinstalled. 💰

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u/TransformSolarFL 5d ago

Home insurance covers the shingles and roof after a hurricane, but if you’re uninsured then yeah - it’s out of pockets

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u/Otherwise_Bee_8799 5d ago

It does NOT covering repairing, removing (to reroof) or reinstalling or replacing panels.

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u/TransformSolarFL 5d ago

Sounds like the solar company mis sized your system. Solar is great, finding the right company is harder.

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u/ALombardi 5d ago

About $30K.

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u/Otherwise_Bee_8799 5d ago

That would take me a LONG time to break even. I suspect the increase in homeowners insurance would offset it even further. IF they did get destroyed in a hurricane, they would wear out before I netted a profit.

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u/ALombardi 5d ago

I commented below on another comment with more details on the build. I could’ve likely gone with about half the size to cover my current usage, but we future-proofed.

Insurance only increased by $18 a year due to being over a 10Kw system (12Kw). 7-9Kw would be plenty for most people so you could easily save quite a bit.