☀︎ Central Florida solar decision guide

Is your home ready for solar?

Before you compare prices or sign anything, check the roof, shade, electricity use and timing that affect your next step. Get a practical, personalized readiness checklist.

✓ Free 2-minute assessment✓ No email needed for your score✓ No made-up savings promises✓ Local Florida questions

S&C coordinates education and referrals; licensed installers handle proposals and installation. We are not your utility company.

Your solar readiness checkReady to start

Discover the right next step for your home.

Answer a handful of questions and get a preliminary readiness score plus a checklist tailored to your answers.

Your score appears before we ask for any contact information.

Educational self-assessment only. It is not an engineering survey, cost estimate or eligibility determination.

Your preliminary result

--out of 100

Your next step

This is a practical planning score, not a forecast of solar production, bill savings, tax-credit qualification, credit approval or contractor acceptance. A qualified installer must review your property and utility details.

Would you like help with your next step?

Optional. Request a follow-up from S&C; we collect your details only if you choose to send this request. The current process routes inquiries to SJ for manual review.

Why these questions matter

A better solar decision starts with your home, not a sales pitch.

The preliminary score guides your next questions. It should never substitute for a licensed installer's inspection, itemized proposal, utility assessment and financing disclosures.

Roof & shade

Older roofs, repair needs and heavy shade can change project timing or panel placement. Make roof work decisions before signing an installation contract.

Electric use & utility

Your usage, rate structure, fixed fees and interconnection rules influence whether a system makes practical sense. Solar usually does not eliminate every charge.

Goals & project timing

Whether you want bill-offset, outage backup or an informed quote comparison affects the equipment and proposal questions worth asking.

Florida homeowner questions

What the readiness score does—and doesn't—tell you.

Does a higher score guarantee that solar will save me money?

No. A score only summarizes the answers you provided about preliminary project readiness. Real economics require a roof survey, utility bills, system design, cash and financed prices, fees, warranties, and a review of the utility's current interconnection rules. Get all promises in writing.

Is there a federal 30% solar tax credit for a new 2026 installation?

The IRS states that the residential clean energy credit under Section 25D is unavailable for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Do not assume an old 30% credit applies to a new 2026 residential project. Ask a tax adviser about your actual circumstances. IRS explanation.

Can solar keep my home powered in an outage?

Solar panels without appropriately designed battery storage or other islanding equipment usually shut down during a grid outage. If backup power matters, ask for a written design specifying the protected circuits, backup capacity and limitations.

Does S&C install panels or represent TECO, Duke or FPL?

No. S&C provides independent educational screening and referral coordination. Installation, engineering, permit handling, contracts, financing and warranty commitments must come from the appropriately licensed providers. We do not represent or speak for any utility.

What else should I compare before choosing an installer?

Compare the itemized cash price versus total financed cost, production assumptions, roof and workmanship warranties, battery specifications, insurance, installer licensing, changes to your utility bill and cancellation provisions. See the Florida solar quote checklist or FTC consumer guidance.

Sources and editorial context: IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, Federal Trade Commission solar consumer guide. Reviewed October 19, 2026. Service focus: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk and surrounding Central Florida communities. All scores are educational and based on user-provided information.