Is it legal to ‘cut the cord’ from FPL?

Answers remain elusive as more people try to disconnnect

As you paid a recent Florida Power & Light bill, you’ve probably entertained a fleeting fantasy of breaking free.

Wouldn’t it be cool, you’ve thought, to say goodbye forever to base charges, non-fuel and fuel charges, regulatory fees, franchise charges, utility taxes, local taxes, and gross receipt taxes — all of which can add up, if you live in an average- to large-sized house, to hundreds of dollars a month.

After all, it’s becoming more affordable than ever for homeowners to achieve energy independence by installing rooftop solar systems, storage batteries and even whole-house generators. Power generated by the sun feeds the batteries, which power the house at night and when it rains. For extended periods with no sun, a gas-powered generator kicks in.

Such a fantasy is easier dreamed than lived. In Florida, answers are elusive as to whether you can really disconnect from the grid. Misinformation is rampant and few of the government officials responsible for authorizing a disconnect have a clear understanding of what’s allowed and what’s not.

Solar temptations

Rooftop solar systems enable growing numbers of consumers to generate all of their own electricity and even earn money back at the end of the year for unused power sold back to the grid at their utility’s full retail rates.

But this year, FPL accused rooftop solar owners of being freeloaders who are forcing non-solar owners to subsidize their fancy setups and nearly bill-free lifestyles. They said solar users, by earning retail rates for unused