There can be solar tax credits and incentives available at the federal, state and local levels. The calculator above will show you the value of all incentives your home is eligible for.
If you go solar in Oregon, you can be sure the state will support you for the long haul. Residential solar programs here have been progressive, and there are sizable solar incentives to claim here. Read on to learn why going solar in Oregon in now one of the surest investments you can make.
Oregon offered some new low income and battery storage rebate programs in 2020. It was a step in the right direction, though available funds were lacking, as both programs were fully subscribed very quickly, and are no longer available. Hopefully the positive impacts from the program can be reworked into a more meaningful pool of solar funds in the coming years.
Learn what solar incentives are available to Oregon homeowners
See what Oregon solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
Find out how much these incentives and/or Oregon solar tax credits will reduce your cost to go solar and add batteries
The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in Oregon
If you install your photovoltaic system before the end of 2032, the federal tax credit is 30% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 30% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor, and permitting.
Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 30% = $6,000.
The federal tax credit falls to 26% starting in 2033.
With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.
With net metering, if you generate more power than you need with your solar panels, you’ll get a credit on your next month’s bill. Thankfully, Oregon provides your credits at 100% of the retail rate.
However, you can’t keep carrying the credits over indefinitely. At the end of each billing year, you forfeit extra solar energy credits to the utility, and the money they would have saved you goes to the utility's low-income programs instead. That's actually a wonderful idea, so kudos, Oregon!
The Energy Trust of Oregon provides a nice solar rebate to PGE and Pacific Power customers. The amount is $300 per kilowatt (kW), up to a maximum of $2,400. So, to max out this credit, you could shoot for an 8-kW solar installation.
When you claim your rebates, the only downside is your performance payment renewable energy certificates (RECs) will be owned by the utility. RECs are credits that can be sold to utilities so that they can meet their renewable portfolio standards. If you take the Oregon Energy Trust rebate, the utility will already own your RECs, so you can’t go selling them to someone else.
A new statewide solar rebate program was available in Oregon in 2020, but had a meager budget of $2 million for the year. The incentive included solar power and battery storage with enhanced rebate amounts for low and moderate income residents.
The program allocated $200 per kilowatt (kW), up to 40% of the total costs, or $5,000, whichever was less.
You could have expected about $1,200 in credits through this program with a typical 6kW home solar installation (6kW * $200 per kW).
The rebates low- and moderate- income residential rebate was $1,800 per kilowatt, up to 60% of cost, or $5,000, whichever was less. This amount of funding definitely had the potential to change some lives.
Unfortunately, this rebate program had a tiny budget of just $2 million, and was closed to new applications in April of 2020. With a bigger budget it could be much, much more successful in helping people go solar. We’ll see what happens with the program budget in 2021 and beyond.
Learn more: Oregon’s statewide solar + storage rebate program
The Energy Trust of Oregon debuted a new low-income solar program in 2020 called “Solar Within Reach”. It provides a hefty rebate incentive of $1,500 per kW, up to $9,000.
That, when combined with the other $2,400 rebate on an 8kW system and the 26% Federal Tax Credit are enough to almost cover the entire cost of your solar energy system.
To qualify, you’ll need to be at or below gross annual maximum income amounts which increase depending on the number of people living in your home. For program details, check out the Energy Trust’s Solar Within Reach website.
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Prices based on a 11.8kW system, after 30% federal tax credit
37 solar companies in Oregon provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.79 105 Reviews
Jud, over 1 month
Out of the three bids for solar installation, we found A&R best aligned not only with our hopes for the project, but also with our values (employee-ownership, socially responsible). We found the drop-box of project photos and information after completion to be very helpful. We are also very happy with the installation now that we're live. We would absolutely recommend A&R.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$14,750 ($2.95 per watt)
Jud, over 1 month
Out of the three bids for solar installation, we found A&R best aligned not only with our hopes for the project, but also with our values (employee-ownership, socially responsible). We found the drop-box of project photos and information after completion to be very helpful. We are also very happy with the installation now that we're live. We would absolutely recommend A&R.
4.71 50 Reviews
Bob, over 1 month
Since I have a solar thermal unit in the roof, I needed a pole-mounted system, which in turn necessitated engineering and city approval. My system has been up since 2005. It worked exactly as he said it would. It is adjustable, safe, durable, and reliable. Best of all, he still periodically answers my questions when I ask about expanding my existing system. I don’t hesitate to recommend him to friends and family. He also installed a 3.3 kW roof-mounted system on my parent’s house.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$16,250 ($3.25 per watt)
Bob, over 1 month
Since I have a solar thermal unit in the roof, I needed a pole-mounted system, which in turn necessitated engineering and city approval. My system has been up since 2005. It worked exactly as he said it would. It is adjustable, safe, durable, and reliable. Best of all, he still periodically answers my questions when I ask about expanding my existing system. I don’t hesitate to recommend him to friends and family. He also installed a 3.3 kW roof-mounted system on my parent’s house.
4.71 55 Reviews
Troy, over 1 month
Ben Carlson was our Sales guy. He delivered on his quote. System was installed 3 months earlier then scheduled at the cost quoted in the contract. All the people involved in the project were professional. They came out on schedule and complete each aspect of the job on schedule and left the area clean. System has been up and running 3 months, with the good weather in Feb, system generated more kW than we used. I can monitor the system on my cell phone. Overall very pleased with the system
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Troy, over 1 month
Ben Carlson was our Sales guy. He delivered on his quote. System was installed 3 months earlier then scheduled at the cost quoted in the contract. All the people involved in the project were professional. They came out on schedule and complete each aspect of the job on schedule and left the area clean. System has been up and running 3 months, with the good weather in Feb, system generated more kW than we used. I can monitor the system on my cell phone. Overall very pleased with the system
4.67 27 Reviews
Chris , over 1 month
The whole Power Northwest team was extremely friendly and professional as they designed and installed solar panels on my house. It couldn't have gone smoother.
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Chris , over 1 month
The whole Power Northwest team was extremely friendly and professional as they designed and installed solar panels on my house. It couldn't have gone smoother.
4.62 114 Reviews
DebM, over 1 month
We’ve tried calling, texting the last numbers we have, emailing … our phone apps have t worked for almost two years. The app is the only way to know what’s going up there. Right after installation when the app was working, we had a couple panels go bad. With no working app, who knows what’s going on with $58k worth of solar panels. I’ve tried self help on line, but still no success. But nobody at the office will respond to us. Would not recommend them any more. Have read really bad stuff about them lately. :(
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DebM, over 1 month
We’ve tried calling, texting the last numbers we have, emailing … our phone apps have t worked for almost two years. The app is the only way to know what’s going up there. Right after installation when the app was working, we had a couple panels go bad. With no working app, who knows what’s going on with $58k worth of solar panels. I’ve tried self help on line, but still no success. But nobody at the office will respond to us. Would not recommend them any more. Have read really bad stuff about them lately. :(
4.59 35 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
E2 Solar has now installed two PV systems for me. They are knowledgeable, professional and committed. I recommend them without reservation.
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Anonymous, over 1 month
E2 Solar has now installed two PV systems for me. They are knowledgeable, professional and committed. I recommend them without reservation.
4.58 13 Reviews
JohnF, over 1 month
Smart Solar's team is outstanding! Within a day or so of first contacting them, we had a detailed video call where the entire process was described and all our questions were answered. Once we signed on, Smart Solar facilitated the financing (zero interest loan!) and explained how to get the tax credit for the installation. The process of installing the system was also smooth and efficient and completed more quickly than expected. The follow-up with Jenn to ensure the monitoring app was working and to iron out any issues was similarly informative and thorough. I can recommend Smart Solar Energy unreservedly for your solar installation.
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JohnF, over 1 month
Smart Solar's team is outstanding! Within a day or so of first contacting them, we had a detailed video call where the entire process was described and all our questions were answered. Once we signed on, Smart Solar facilitated the financing (zero interest loan!) and explained how to get the tax credit for the installation. The process of installing the system was also smooth and efficient and completed more quickly than expected. The follow-up with Jenn to ensure the monitoring app was working and to iron out any issues was similarly informative and thorough. I can recommend Smart Solar Energy unreservedly for your solar installation.
4.57 178 Reviews
Jane Doe, over 1 month
Don’t be fooled by Intermountain Wind and Solar. They have good salesman but when it comes to installation and actually working with the company, they are the worst. We ha e to beg for an install date and then had to call and remind them we were there every step of the way. Please do yourself a favor and go with another company.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$15,000 ($3.00 per watt)
Jane Doe, over 1 month
Don’t be fooled by Intermountain Wind and Solar. They have good salesman but when it comes to installation and actually working with the company, they are the worst. We ha e to beg for an install date and then had to call and remind them we were there every step of the way. Please do yourself a favor and go with another company.
4.50 10 Reviews
Dundee OR, over 1 month
I did not know it at the time but what Solar Energy Solutions gave me was more than a great job, it was truly a gift that continues to influence me, my family, my neighbors and my community.<br />
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Dundee OR, over 1 month
I did not know it at the time but what Solar Energy Solutions gave me was more than a great job, it was truly a gift that continues to influence me, my family, my neighbors and my community.<br />
4.50 11 Reviews
Ryan, over 1 month
Solar is a BIG purchase, but Cascade Solar made it a transparent, honest one with skill on install, flexibility in scheduling, a competitive price per watt compared to most, and access to a lender specializing in green lending at market or slightly-below market rates. They communicated great throughout and the process is more streamlined with them than two other firms installing for different friends of ours were. Our experience with bidding firms was wildly divergent - from “that big firm” that felt like dealing with a bot, to other mid-tier firms that frankly padded their bids (one firm quoted the same price for final install that we had for CS, but for 60% the array size!). Our Enphase system is performing as advertised and the backup Powerwalls give us a bit more assurance in outages which have become all-too-common in PDX winters. They got us to a reasonable cost per watt installed with high-quality components, took care of the permitting and inspections, and did a final walk-through meeting to test our system performance and make any adjustments needed. If you are considering solar, give these folks a call. There are a lot of shady characters looking to make a mint on folks not doing their due diligence. Cascade Solar is local to PDX and absolutely worth your time to consider!
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Ryan, over 1 month
Solar is a BIG purchase, but Cascade Solar made it a transparent, honest one with skill on install, flexibility in scheduling, a competitive price per watt compared to most, and access to a lender specializing in green lending at market or slightly-below market rates. They communicated great throughout and the process is more streamlined with them than two other firms installing for different friends of ours were. Our experience with bidding firms was wildly divergent - from “that big firm” that felt like dealing with a bot, to other mid-tier firms that frankly padded their bids (one firm quoted the same price for final install that we had for CS, but for 60% the array size!). Our Enphase system is performing as advertised and the backup Powerwalls give us a bit more assurance in outages which have become all-too-common in PDX winters. They got us to a reasonable cost per watt installed with high-quality components, took care of the permitting and inspections, and did a final walk-through meeting to test our system performance and make any adjustments needed. If you are considering solar, give these folks a call. There are a lot of shady characters looking to make a mint on folks not doing their due diligence. Cascade Solar is local to PDX and absolutely worth your time to consider!
For more information about going solar near where you live, check out the following resources: