Solar panels in Crescent Beach, FL
See what solar and battery backup could save your Crescent Beach home on FPL's rates, with full-retail net metering and $0-down options. Free, no-obligation quotes from installers serving St. Johns 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 beach at Crescent Beach, KlipschFan, CC BY-SA 2.0
By the FL Solar Deals Editorial Team · Updated October 2026 · How we research
Quick answer
Is solar worth it in Crescent Beach, FL?
For many homes, yes. With a $200 monthly FPL bill, we estimate a 10.4 kW system costs about $28,100 and pays for itself in about 13.8 years, because FPL credits exported solar at the full retail rate. Panels in Crescent Beach produce roughly 1,430 kWh per kW each year on an unshaded, south-facing roof.
How much does solar cost and save in Crescent Beach?
- Electric utility
- FPL
- County
- St. Johns County
- Population (2020)
- about 800
- Solar output per kW
- ~1,430 kWh/year
- System for a $200/mo bill
- ~10.4 kW (26 panels)
- Typical FPL rate
- ~13.7¢/kWh
- Est. cost / payback
- $28,100 / ~13.8 yrs
- 25-year savings
- $65,100
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 Crescent Beach home?
Estimates for Crescent 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 FPL'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 | 7.2 kW | 18 | ~380 sq ft | $19,400 | 13.7 yrs |
| $200/mo | 10.4 kW | 26 | ~550 sq ft | $28,100 | 13.8 yrs |
| $300/mo | 16.4 kW | 41 | ~860 sq ft | $44,300 | 13.8 yrs |
| $400/mo | 22.4 kW | 56 | ~1,180 sq ft | $60,500 | 13.8 yrs |
How does solar work with FPL in Crescent Beach?
Crescent Beach is an owner-occupied St. Johns County beach community on FPL that lost the most sand in Tropical Storm Nicole and got new dunes in 2024.
Most homes in Crescent Beach get their electricity from Florida Power & Light (FPL). FPL 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 Crescent Beach systems are sized to cover a year of use, not more. See the full FPL solar guide.
Solar can't take your bill below FPL's monthly minimum of about $30.
Compare solar across nearby towns on the St. Johns County solar page.
Is your Crescent Beach home a good fit?
About 95% of homes in Crescent Beach are owner-occupied, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $664,600, 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 FPL 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 Crescent Beach roof as part of your free quote.
How do I choose a solar company in Crescent Beach?
Check these before you sign with any solar company serving Crescent 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 St. Johns County, inspections and the FPL 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 Crescent Beach home from one of our trusted Florida partners.
Can I add hurricane battery backup to solar in Crescent Beach?
Yes. A battery stores your solar power and keeps chosen circuits running when the FPL 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 FPL 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 Crescent Beach?
- Crescent Beach is unincorporated, so St. Johns County issues solar permits. The county's photovoltaic checklist asks for a structural engineering letter for roof-mounted systems and a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection.
- St. Johns County officials said Crescent and Butler Beach lost the most sand to Tropical Storm Nicole in 2022, which did an estimated $34 million in damage countywide.
- The county's FEMA-funded dune rebuild after Ian and Nicole was completed at Crescent Beach in January 2024. Crescent Beach is on FPL's list of the communities it serves.
- 1
Building permit
Your installer applies to St. Johns 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
FPL net metering application
Your installer applies to FPL 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, FPL 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 St. Johns County Property Appraiser.
Local sources: St. Johns County: Photovoltaic energy checklist; News4JAX: Nicole caused an estimated $34 million in damage in St. Johns County (Nov. 2022); St. Johns County: Hurricane Ian and Nicole FEMA dune enhancement project; FPL: Communities served (tariff section 7)
How much could solar save your Crescent Beach home?
Get an instant solar estimate for your Crescent Beach home: enter your bill to see a system size, cost, payback and what battery backup adds.
Your estimate
- System size
- 10.4 kW
- about 26 panels
- Yearly production
- 14,872 kWh
- vs. about 14,891 kWh used
- First-year savings
- $2,037
- about $170/month
- Payback
- 13.8 years
- $65,100 saved over 25 years
| Estimated costNo Florida state or utility rebate applies; sales tax is already exempt. | $28,100 |
|---|
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 Crescent Beach can you get solar quotes?
What should Crescent Beach homeowners know before going solar?
Crescent Beach solar FAQ
Who is the electric utility in Crescent Beach, FL?
Most homes in Crescent Beach are served by Florida Power & Light (FPL). 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 Crescent Beach?
Not from the state or FPL. What Crescent Beach homeowners do get is full-retail net metering from FPL, 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 Crescent Beach?
For a home with a $200 monthly bill, we estimate a 10.4 kW system at about $28,100, which pays for itself in about 13.8 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 Crescent Beach home.
How much electricity do solar panels produce in Crescent Beach?
About 1,430 kWh per year for each kW of panels on an unshaded, south-facing roof, so a 10.4 kW system would make roughly 14,872 kWh a year. Shade, roof direction and pitch can lower that.
Will solar keep my power on during a hurricane in Crescent Beach?
Only with a battery. Grid-tied panels shut off when the FPL 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 Crescent 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.
.jpg){kind=link}
Get a free solar quote for your Crescent Beach home
Free, no-obligation quote from a trusted Florida solar partner.