Florida Restaurant Electricity Costs (2025)Why You Pay $2.50-$4/sqft & How to Cut 20-35%
🍽️ Restaurant Energy Facts
- • Typical cost: $2.50-$4.00 per sqft annually (2-3x office buildings)
- • Energy intensity: Restaurants use 5-10x more energy per sqft than offices
- • Biggest costs: HVAC (35%), kitchen equipment (30%), refrigeration (20%)
- • Peak hours: Lunch & dinner = highest demand charges
- • Savings potential: 20-35% through equipment + controls + scheduling
- • Rebates available: $10k-$40k from Duke/FPL/TECO
Florida restaurants have the highest electricity costs per square foot of any commercial building type—averaging $2.50-$4.00/sqft annually. A 4,000 sqft restaurant can easily spend $120,000-$180,000 per year on electricity.
The combination of heat-generating kitchen equipment, intensive HVAC loads, 24/7 refrigeration, and simultaneous peak demand during meal rushes creates a perfect storm of high energy costs.
💰 Real Example: Miami Full-Service Restaurant
Restaurant: 4,500 sqft full-service, Miami (FPL customer)
Annual electricity: 145,000 kWh
Annual cost: $16,800 ($3.73/sqft)
Breakdown:
- • HVAC: $5,880 (35%)
- • Kitchen equipment: $5,040 (30%)
- • Refrigeration: $3,360 (20%)
- • Lighting: $1,680 (10%)
- • Other: $840 (5%)
After optimization:
LED retrofit + controls: -$2,400/year
HVAC scheduling: -$1,680/year
Equipment upgrades: -$1,200/year
Total savings: $5,280/year (31% reduction!)
FPL rebates: $12,400
Net investment: $8,600
Payback: 1.6 years
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1. HVAC (35%)
Why so high: Kitchen heat loads + dining comfort + Florida climate
Optimization Strategies:
- • Install demand-controlled ventilation
- • Schedule pre-cooling before rush hours
- • Use kitchen hoods with smart controls
- • Seal kitchen-dining area separation
2. Kitchen Equipment (30%)
Main culprits: Ovens, fryers, griddles, warmers
Optimization Strategies:
- • Replace with ENERGY STAR equipment
- • Use induction cooking (50% more efficient)
- • Turn off equipment during non-peak
- • Regular maintenance & calibration
3. Refrigeration (20%)
Challenge: 24/7 operation + frequent door openings
Optimization Strategies:
- • Upgrade to high-efficiency units
- • Install strip curtains on walk-ins
- • Regular coil cleaning (2x/year)
- • Use LED lighting in coolers
4. Lighting (10%)
Easy wins: LED retrofit + occupancy sensors
Optimization Strategies:
- • Convert to LED (60-75% savings)
- • Install dimming controls
- • Use daylight harvesting
- • Occupancy sensors in storage areas
Florida Restaurant Success Stories
Quick-Service Restaurant - Orlando
Size: 2,800 sqft
Before: $84,000/year
Actions: LED + kitchen hood controls + HVAC scheduling
After: $62,400/year
Savings: $21,600/year (26%)
Duke rebates: $8,200
Payback: 1.3 years
Fine Dining - Tampa
Size: 6,200 sqft
Before: $198,000/year
Actions: Walk-in cooler upgrade + induction cooking + smart HVAC
After: $138,600/year
Savings: $59,400/year (30%)
TECO rebates: $24,800
Payback: 2.1 years
FAQ
Why do restaurants use so much electricity?
Three factors: (1) Heat-generating kitchen equipment requires intensive cooling, (2) 24/7 refrigeration loads, (3) Simultaneous peak demand during meal rushes creates high demand charges. Restaurants use 5-10x more energy per sqft than typical offices.
What's the quickest ROI for restaurants?
LED lighting retrofit. Costs $3k-$8k, saves $2k-$4k/year, plus reduces HVAC load by cutting heat output. With Duke/FPL/TECO rebates covering 40-60% of cost, payback is typically under 1 year.
Related Resources
Reduce Demand Charges
Restaurants have spiky demand during meal rushes. Learn how to reduce demand charges 20-40%.
Read Guide →RebatesFPL Restaurant Rebates
Get $10k-$40k in rebates for kitchen equipment, HVAC, and lighting upgrades.
View Rebates →Complete GuideReduce Costs 15-40%
5 proven strategies restaurants use to dramatically cut electricity costs.
See Strategies →Cut Your Restaurant Energy Costs
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