Going Solar

The city is committed to the increased usage and production solar energy, both for municipal operations and community-wide users, helping promote a clean, sustainable energy source, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel dependency, and improving community resilience.

Solar in Winter Park

The city installed its first municipally-owned solar PV array on the Howell Branch Fleet Maintenance building in 2013.

SolSmart Gold logoIn January 2020, the City of Winter Park received SolSmart Gold designation for their efforts to make it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar! We are proud to be recognized as a national leader in advancing solar energy.

The city is focusing on developing a community solar program in cooperation with our municipal utility, continued streamlining of the solar project review and permitting process, and the expansion and communication of solar financing options for residential and commercial properties. Read the City’s Solar Commitment Letter.

Learn more about FL Solar United Neighbors and their Orange County Solar Co-op serving Winter Park residents.

Net Energy Metering for Solar PV Systems Program

Customers who invest in renewable energy by installing photovoltaic (PV) systems in their homes can interconnect with the City of Winter Park (CWP) electric system and receive credit for the solar energy they do not use.

Customers will be reimbursed for the excess electricity generated by their PV system, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Regardless of whether excess energy is delivered to the city’s electric distribution system, the customer shall pay the applicable customer charges and/or the applicable demand charge for the maximum measured demand during each billing period pursuant to the applicable rate schedules.

Eligibility

  • Open to CWP electric customers.
  • The customer must obtain all necessary permits. Solar PV System permits have a turn-around time of no more than three days. Flat Rate Building Permit Fees for Solar PV Installation – Tier I: $50 and Tier II: $150.
  • Systems must comply with current City of Winter Park guidelines governing interconnection with the electric system and any subsequent revisions to these guidelines. The customer must submit an Application for Interconnection and either Tier 1 or Tier 2 Interconnection Agreement (as applicable).
  • PV modules must be UL- or ETL-listed.
  • The final electrical connection must be performed by a licensed electrical contractor.
  • An additional meter socket (REC meter) must be installed to interconnect with City of Winter Park so that total system output can be captured. See diagram.
  • Tier II customers shall maintain general liability insurance for personal injury and property damage in the amount of not less than 1 million dollars and name the City of Winter Park as an additional insured on the customer’s general liability insurance policy.
  • Program details and rates are subject to change without notice.
  • Guidance for Historic Buildings and Historic Districts: The primary façade of a historic building is often the most architecturally distinctive and publicly visible, thus the most significant and character-defining. To the greatest extent possible, avoid placing solar panels on street‐facing walls or roofs, including those facing side streets. Learn more about national best practices for implementing solar PV systems in historic districts.

Solar PV Systems

Generally, solar photovoltaic systems include an array of photovoltaic modules that are mounted to the roof and electrically connected to the utility. The utility connection allows an owner to send excess energy back to the utility or to use utility energy when solar power is not available.

The best placement for your solar photovoltaic system depends on a number of variables. Visit the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) website for more information on how PV systems work, as well as checklists for eliminating problems with shading and other technical specifications.

Major Photovoltaic System Components

Major Photovoltaic System Components
Source: Florida Solar Energy Center

Want to discover your solar savings potential? By entering your address in Google Project Sunroof, you can learn more about your roof’s solar potential!

The City of Winter Park makes no guarantees as to any savings that may be achieved by installing PV systems. The City of Winter Park is not a manufacturer, supplier, or guarantor of the PV systems or installers. The City of Winter Park has not made and makes no representations or warranties of any nature, directly or indirectly, express or implied, as to the performance of the installer or reliability, performance, durability, condition, or quality of the PV system selected and purchased.

Our Vision

Winter Park is the city of arts and culture, cherishing its traditional scale and charm while building a healthy and sustainable future for all generations.