Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) Solar & Net Metering Guide

Last updated: 2026-05-17 by Goldin Solar permitting team

The Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) is the member-owned electric cooperative serving the Upper and Middle Keys — from the Monroe / Miami-Dade county line down through about Long Key. As a not-for-profit cooperative, FKEC operates under a different regulatory framework than investor-owned utilities like FPL or Duke, and the net metering picture is shaped by both cooperative governance and the unique permitting environment of the Florida Keys. This guide covers what we’ve seen working with FKEC residential solar interconnection.

Who FKEC serves

FKEC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving:

Upper Keys: Key Largo, Tavernier, Plantation Key, Windley Key, Islamorada (most of it)
Middle Keys: Lower Matecumbe, Long Key, Conch Key, Duck Key, Grassy Key (partial)
Most members are residential customers along the US-1 corridor and the side streets / canals

The Keys’ utility split:

FKEC: Upper and Middle Keys — from the Monroe / Miami-Dade county line south through the Seven Mile Bridge, including Marathon (~33,000 accounts)
Keys Energy Services (KEYS): Lower Keys from roughly the Seven Mile Bridge to Key West — Big Pine Key, Stock Island, and Key West. (Note: Marathon is served by FKEC, not KEYS.)
These are TWO different utilities. Your address determines which one serves you.

FKEC net metering: basics

As a member-owned cooperative, FKEC’s net metering program is governed by FKEC’s board of trustees, not the Florida Public Service Commission. Typical elements:

Eligibility: Customer-sited residential PV; member-owned
System size: Sized so the system is no larger than needed for yearly net-zero usage; FKEC bases sizing on the average of the member’s three highest-consumption months in the last 12
Bill credit structure: Each kWh of excess generation is credited at the per-kWh charges shown on the member’s net-meter bill (energy + delivery components, ~retail-equivalent); the energy charge is about $0.033/kWh
Annual true-up: Net (import vs. export) is tracked each billing cycle as a kWh balance and reconciled on an annual cycle per FKEC’s net-meter tariff
Interconnection application: Required before installation; FKEC engineering review
PTO process: FKEC-managed bidirectional meter installation after final inspection

What makes FKEC different from FPL

Cooperative governance. FKEC is owned by its members. Major tariff decisions go through the cooperative board, not a state PSC docket. Member participation in board elections matters.
Smaller scale. FKEC has fewer members than FPL. The interconnection queue, when active, can be shorter — but engineering review is hands-on.
Keys-specific operational context. Hurricane resilience is a central concern for the Keys utility. FKEC’s grid has hardening initiatives that aren’t paralleled in mainland utilities. Battery integration conversations frequently come up.
Permit environment. Monroe County and the various Keys municipalities have their own permit processes, and the wind zone is among the highest in non-HVHZ Florida.

Permit environment: Florida Keys specifics

The Keys are NOT in HVHZ under historic FBC code boundary, but the wind exposure is among the highest in non-HVHZ Florida:

Design wind speed: ~170-185 mph (Vult) for Risk Category II residential in the Upper/Middle Keys per FBC 8th Edition / ASCE 7-22; Exposure D and the Wind-Borne Debris Region apply Keys-wide (Monroe is not in the HVHZ) — verify per address via the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool
Coastal / oceanfront exposure can push higher
Hardware: We default to Miami-Dade NOA hardware for Keys installs. Code-minimum FPA is technically sufficient but the wind exposure justifies the over-spec.
Engineering: PE-sealed structural compliance letter, address-specific, citing FBC exposure values
Permitting jurisdictions in FKEC territory:
Monroe County Building Department for unincorporated Keys (most addresses); online permitting via Oracle Fusion
Village of Islamorada (its own Building Services department) for Islamorada-incorporated addresses
City of Layton for Layton-incorporated addresses — Layton is incorporated; confirm with Layton City Hall ((305) 664-4667) whether solar permits go through the City or Monroe County, defaulting to Monroe County
Village of Key Biscayne is NOT in FKEC territory (that’s Miami-Dade)

This is a uniquely strict permitting environment. The Keys have heavily reinforced post-Hurricane Andrew (1992) and Irma (2017) construction standards. Our spec for Keys installs is consistently the most conservative in our portfolio.

Permit + utility coordination for FKEC customers

1. Building permit (Monroe County or applicable Keys municipality) — see our Monroe County / Florida Keys solar permit guide 2. FKEC interconnection application — submitted in parallel 3. HOA / ARC approval if applicable 4. Installation after permit issuance 5. Final inspection by the AHJ 6. FKEC meter swap after final inspection approval 7. FKEC PTO grant

Typical FKEC timeline

End-to-end: typically 10 to 16 weeks for FKEC-area installs. Longer than mainland averages due to the conservative permitting environment.

What we’ve learned working with FKEC

Hardware over-spec is the default, not the exception. Miami-Dade NOA hardware, stainless attachments, anti-corrosion electrical, tile-replacement flashings for tile roofs — all standard, not upcharges.
Battery systems are nearly universal scope. Keys customers want resilience. Outages from major storms can extend for weeks. We design for real outage coverage, not symbolic battery capacity.
Engineering is more involved. PE-sealed letters cite higher wind speeds, more conservative attachment spacing, additional documentation.
FKEC engineering review is hands-on. Submission documentation is thorough; review is human, not automated. We submit complete packages and respond quickly to clarification requests.
Salt-air spec is non-negotiable. Every part of the Keys has direct ocean/Gulf/bay exposure. Anti-corrosion hardware spec is included on every quote.
Hurricane preparation is a real customer conversation. Sometimes the right answer is “your roof needs replacement before solar”; sometimes “your home is hardened and ready.” We’re honest either way.

Frequently asked questions

Is FKEC the same as FPL? No. FKEC is a member-owned cooperative. FPL is an investor-owned utility. Different regulatory framework, different tariff structure, different interconnection process.

Is FKEC the same as KEYS (Keys Energy Services)? No. FKEC serves Upper and Middle Keys. KEYS serves Lower Keys including Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Key West. Both are separate utilities; both run their own net metering programs.

Is my Keys home in HVHZ? No under historic code boundary, but the wind exposure is among the highest in non-HVHZ Florida. We default to Miami-Dade NOA hardware for Keys installs.

Can I install solar after a hurricane damaged my Keys home? Often yes, but only after the rebuild permit-of-record is closed and the truss structure is verified. We do real inspection, not paperwork shortcuts.

Does FKEC charge a monthly net metering fee? Yes — FKEC bills a fixed Daily System Access Charge (a service-availability charge) that net-metering credits do not offset, in addition to the ~$0.033/kWh energy charge. Read your current FKEC net-meter bill for the exact amounts.

Should I install a battery with my Keys solar system? For most Keys customers, yes. Outage duration after major storms can be substantial; backup battery coverage is uniquely valuable here.

Does Goldin Solar handle the full FKEC interconnection application? Yes — included on every Keys contract at no additional charge.

How does the permit fee for a Keys install compare to mainland? Typically $250-$500 for residential PV (estimate — verify per jurisdiction; Keys fees are often valuation-based plus floodplain/electrical add-ons and can run higher; confirm current Monroe County / Islamorada / Layton fee schedules).

Talk to a Florida Keys solar specialist

If you’re served by FKEC and you want a quote that reflects the actual wind exposure at your address, conservative hardware spec, and real resilience scope, give us a call.

Goldin Solar, LLC Address: 1105 US Highway 1, Vero Beach, FL 32960 Phone: (855) 765-2730 License: CVC 57300

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Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) Solar & Net Metering Guide