At FPL, safety is always our #1 priority. If you have invested in a private rooftop solar system that is connected to the energy grid, you can operate your system during a power outage if you have purchased and installed additional equipment, such as a battery storage system.
It is standard throughout the energy industry for a private solar system to automatically disconnect from the grid during a power outage. This nationally recognized safety practice prevents electricity generated by solar panels from travelling through power lines, which could electrocute repair crews.
While Floridians are not mandated by law to connect solar panels to the power grid, many customers choose to do so as a way to sell excess power generated by their systems back to the electric company – a program known as “net metering.” Connecting to the grid also enables a customer to purchase power from the FPL during times when they are using more electricity than their solar panels can produce, such as on cloudy days or at night. FPL works closely with customers and contractors to ensure a safe interconnection for private generation systems onto the FPL power grid. We also provide customers who participate in net metering with free online tools to see how much solar power they are selling back to FPL.