Typical customer: Worth it

City of Bartow and solar

City of Bartow is a municipal utility serving about 11,763 homes in Florida. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.

Average price (2026 est.)
11.8¢23% below Florida average
Typical bill
$1381,163 kWh a month
Exports credited
RetailFull retail net metering
Typical payback
13.1 yrs9 kW, cash

Export rules for City of Bartow customers

Full retail net metering (Florida rule).

Florida's investor-owned utilities (FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO) must offer full retail net metering: exports earn kWh credits that roll over for up to 12 months, then any leftover is paid at a low avoided-cost rate. Municipal and co-op utilities set their own terms, and some pay less.

Florida net metering details

Solar for a typical City of Bartow home

System9 kW (100% of 1,163 kWh/month)
Cost$21,050
First-year savings$1,623
Payback13.1 years
25-year net$25,393

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
342
Share of customers
2.9%
Residential solar capacity
4 MW
Residential customers
11,763

EIA-861, 2025.

Questions about City of Bartow and solar

Does City of Bartow have net metering?

City of Bartow follows Florida's rules: Florida's investor-owned utilities (FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO) must offer full retail net metering: exports earn kWh credits that roll over for up to 12 months, then any leftover is paid at a low avoided-cost rate. Municipal and co-op utilities set their own terms, and some pay less.

How much does electricity cost with City of Bartow?

Residential customers paid an average of 11.7¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 11.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,163 kWh a month, a bill of about $138.

Is solar worth it with City of Bartow?

For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 9 kW system costing about $21,050 pays back in about 13.1 years, with $25,393 net over 25 years.

How many City of Bartow customers have solar?

About 342 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 2.9% of residential customers (EIA-861).

Legal name: City of Bartow - (FL) (EIA ID 1300). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.