Solar panels in Apollo Beach, FL
See what solar and battery backup could save your Apollo Beach home on TECO's rates, with full-retail net metering and $0-down options. Free, no-obligation quotes from installers serving Hillsborough County.
Free, no-obligation quotes. Savings vary by home and utility. $0-down offers are leases or loans and are subject to approval.
Photo: The shoreline at Apollo Beach, Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 3.0
By the FL Solar Deals Editorial Team · Updated October 2026 · How we research
Quick answer
Is solar worth it in Apollo Beach, FL?
For many homes, yes. With a $200 monthly TECO bill, we estimate a 9.2 kW system costs about $24,800 and pays for itself in about 11.4 years, because TECO credits exported solar at the full retail rate. Panels in Apollo Beach produce roughly 1,510 kWh per kW each year on an unshaded, south-facing roof.
How much does solar cost and save in Apollo Beach?
- Electric utility
- TECO
- County
- Hillsborough County
- Population (2020)
- about 26,000
- Solar output per kW
- ~1,510 kWh/year
- System for a $200/mo bill
- ~9.2 kW (23 panels)
- Typical TECO rate
- ~15.6¢/kWh
- Est. cost / payback
- $24,800 / ~11.4 yrs
- 25-year savings
- $69,300
Estimates for a cash purchase on an unshaded, south-facing roof with a $200 monthly bill. Your roof and rate plan will change the numbers. How we estimate
What would a solar estimate look like for a Apollo Beach home?
Estimates for Apollo Beach homes at four common bill sizes. Bigger bills need bigger systems that cost more up front, but payback stays about the same, because every kWh the panels make is credited at TECO's full rate. Homes that use more than 1,000 kWh a month pay a higher rate on the extra, so they often do a little better than shown.
| Monthly bill | System size | Panels | Roof space | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150/mo | 6.8 kW | 17 | ~360 sq ft | $18,400 | 11.5 yrs |
| $200/mo | 9.2 kW | 23 | ~480 sq ft | $24,800 | 11.4 yrs |
| $300/mo | 14.4 kW | 36 | ~760 sq ft | $38,900 | 11.5 yrs |
| $400/mo | 19.6 kW | 49 | ~1,030 sq ft | $52,900 | 11.5 yrs |
How does solar work with TECO in Apollo Beach?
Apollo Beach is a Hillsborough County community where nearly 86% of homes are owner-occupied, home to Tampa Electric's Big Bend power plant and its 23 MW solar array.
Most homes in Apollo Beach get their electricity from Tampa Electric (TECO). TECO net meters under the Florida PSC's rule: power your panels send to the grid comes back as a kWh credit at the full retail rate, credits roll forward for up to 12 months, and anything left at year-end is paid out at only a few cents per kWh. So the best Apollo Beach systems are sized to cover a year of use, not more. See the full TECO solar guide.
Solar can't take your bill below TECO's monthly minimum of about $13.50.
These estimates apply to homes with mailing addresses in Apollo Beach, including ZIP code 33572.
Compare solar across nearby towns on the Hillsborough County solar page.
Is your Apollo Beach home a good fit?
About 86% of homes in Apollo Beach are owner-occupied, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $472,700, compared with 68% and $359,000 statewide, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2020-2024 estimates).
- You own the home. Rooftop solar requires owning the roof.
- Your roof gets sun for most of the day on its south, west or east side, without heavy tree shade.
- Your roof has years of life left. Replacing an aging shingle or tile roof before installing saves a removal and reinstall fee later.
- Your TECO bill is regularly over about $150 a month, or you're adding an EV or a pool pump.
Not sure? A specialist can check satellite imagery of your Apollo Beach roof as part of your free quote.
How do I choose a solar company in Apollo Beach?
Check these before you sign with any solar company serving Apollo Beach:
- A Florida contractor license. Look up the company's license on the Florida DBPR license search and make sure it's active.
- Permits and utility paperwork included. The price should cover the permit with Hillsborough County, inspections and the TECO net metering application.
- Two or three quotes compared on price per watt, equipment and warranties. Our solar quote checker flags high prices and other red flags, and our guide to choosing a solar company covers the rest.
Or request a free quote for your Apollo Beach home from one of our trusted Florida partners.
Can I add hurricane battery backup to solar in Apollo Beach?
Yes. A battery stores your solar power and keeps chosen circuits running when the TECO grid goes down, which standard solar alone can't do: grid-tied panels shut off in an outage. After a storm, the panels recharge the battery each sunny day until the grid comes back. One 13.5 kWh battery runs about $13,000 installed at recent South Florida prices, with no utility or state rebate.
One battery usually covers essentials; running central air usually takes two or more. Because TECO already credits exported solar at the full rate, a battery's value is backup, not a lower bill. See solar battery backup for hurricanes.
What permits and paperwork does solar need in Apollo Beach?
- Apollo Beach is unincorporated, so Hillsborough County issues solar permits. Plans must show wind loads under the Florida Building Code, and the county's rough-in inspection can be done virtually.
- Tampa Electric's Big Bend Solar Array, 23 MW of panels on 106 acres, has been producing power in Apollo Beach since 2017, across Dickman Road from the Big Bend Power Station.
- The power station's warm cooling water draws manatees to Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center, which reopened in time for the 2024 season after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
- For the 2026 hurricane season, Hillsborough County pushed evacuation Zone A further inland in Apollo Beach, so owners should check their zone again.
- Hurricane Helene's storm surge in September 2024 reached Apollo Beach's canal neighborhoods.
- 1
Building permit
Your installer applies to Hillsborough County for the permit, with plans designed to Florida Building Code wind loads, and an inspector checks the finished work. Since July 2025, state law lets a private provider review residential solar and battery plans, with a decision due within 5 business days.
- 2
TECO net metering application
Your installer applies to TECO to connect the system. Most home systems are Tier 1 (up to 10 kW), with no application fee.
- 3
Meter swap and permission to operate
After the final inspection, TECO installs a net meter and gives permission to turn the system on.
- 4
Property tax
Florida law keeps the value solar adds out of your home's assessment. If you're unsure whether anything needs to be filed, ask the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser.
Local sources: Hillsborough County: Solar photovoltaic system checklist; Osprey Observer: TECO opens Big Bend Solar in Apollo Beach (May 2017); WUSF: Manatee viewing returns after Helene and Milton (Nov. 2024); Tampa Electric: Manatee Viewing Center (Oct. 2025); Hillsborough County: Expanded evacuation zones for 2026 (May 2026); FOX 13: Southern Hillsborough braces for Milton after Helene (Oct. 2024)
How much could solar save your Apollo Beach home?
Get an instant solar estimate for your Apollo Beach home: enter your bill to see a system size, cost, payback and what battery backup adds.
Your estimate
- System size
- 9.2 kW
- about 23 panels
- Yearly production
- 13,892 kWh
- vs. about 14,346 kWh used
- First-year savings
- $2,167
- about $181/month
- Payback
- 11.4 years
- $69,300 saved over 25 years
| Estimated costNo Florida state or utility rebate applies; sales tax is already exempt. | $24,800 |
|---|
Planning estimate only, not a quote. Assumes a south-facing roof, a cash purchase and a system sized to cover up to a year of use. Real numbers depend on your roof, equipment and rate plan. How we estimate
How it works
- 1
Enter your ZIP
We confirm your home is in Florida and which utility serves it.
- 2
Answer a few questions
Your typical electric bill, your roof and how you'd like to pay. It takes about two minutes.
- 3
Talk to a local specialist
A Florida installer models your real savings from your bills and roof, with battery backup if you want it. You decide what happens next.
Where else near Apollo Beach can you get solar quotes?
What should Apollo Beach homeowners know before going solar?
Apollo Beach solar FAQ
Who is the electric utility in Apollo Beach, FL?
Most homes in Apollo Beach are served by Tampa Electric (TECO). Some addresses near town edges may be on a city-owned utility or an electric co-op, so check the name on your bill.
Are there solar rebates in Apollo Beach?
Not from the state or TECO. What Apollo Beach homeowners do get is full-retail net metering from TECO, no sales tax on solar equipment, and no property tax on the value solar adds to the home. The 30% federal homeowner credit ended after 2025.
How much do solar panels cost in Apollo Beach?
For a home with a $200 monthly bill, we estimate a 9.2 kW system at about $24,800, which pays for itself in about 11.4 yrs. A lease can bring the upfront cost to $0. Try the solar savings calculator, or get a free quote for real numbers on your Apollo Beach home.
How much electricity do solar panels produce in Apollo Beach?
About 1,510 kWh per year for each kW of panels on an unshaded, south-facing roof, so a 9.2 kW system would make roughly 13,892 kWh a year. Shade, roof direction and pitch can lower that.
Will solar keep my power on during a hurricane in Apollo Beach?
Only with a battery. Grid-tied panels shut off when the TECO grid goes down, for the safety of line crews; a battery keeps chosen circuits running and the panels recharge it each sunny day.
Can my HOA in Apollo Beach stop me from going solar?
No. Florida law bars HOAs and deed restrictions from prohibiting solar panels. The association can choose where on the roof they go, as long as the spot faces south or within 45° east or west of due south and doesn't keep them from working well.
Get a free solar quote for your Apollo Beach home
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