Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) opened up its solar incentive program for 2012 on Oct. 27. It’s been one of the most popular solar incentive programs.

In all, FPL is offering up $15.5 million to help residents and businesses go solar in 2012, according to FPL spokesperson Marie Bertot. But if you’re an FPL customer, don’t wait for the incentive program. Both times it was offered in 2011 customers snatched up the incentives within a day of it being offered, at least the photovoltaic incentives were.

”The water heater rebates took a little longer,” she said.

Incentives for 2012 are also expected to go quickly, according to Bertot.

“We anticipate the 2012 funding will be claimed quickly. We’re encouraging everyone with to talk with contractors quickly to [plan] their project,” she said.

It’s no wonder, after all, under the solar incentive program, homeowners qualify for rebates of $2,000 per DC kilowatt. And can qualify for up to $20,000 in rebates. Businesses are offered the same deal for systems up to 10 kilowatts, falling to $1 per watt of DC solar up to 50 kilowatts. Businesses with multiple locations can qualify for up to $150,000 in rebates if they install photovoltaics at various locations.

Homeowners and businesses with existing solar systems also could add to them, Mertot said.

“You could get a rebate for an additional installation,” she said.

Part of the reason the rebates went and are likely to go so quickly is that the $15.5 million supports all sizes of projects.

“It’s for everyone to apply to,” Bertot said.

While FPL does not have a waiting list for the program, after the fund is committed, FPL will reopen it for more applications in 2012, according to Mertot. When it reopens it will disperse any of the funding that though committed, ended up not being spent on a solar project, she said.

The company is making additional funding available to support a limited number of nonprofit organizations installing solar water heaters for low-income families. And it plans to expand a program that’s installed 10 PV arrays at educational facilities.

FPL said it plans to install at least one Next Generation Solar Education Station in 28 school districts throughout Florida in 2012.

Image courtesy of NREL.