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
This perk is commonly known as the ITC, short for “Investment Tax Credit”. If you install your photovoltaic system in 2020, the federal tax credit is 26% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 26% 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 26% = $5,200.
The federal tax credit falls to 22% at the end of 2022.
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 26% federal tax credit
29 solar companies in Oregon provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.81 101 Reviews
Brian B., 2 weeks ago
From start to finish. Sales meeting to final completion. A & R and all the staff I worked with were the most professional, and competent Solar installation company ever. I highly recommend this employee-owned company to anyone looking at a new solar installation.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$14,750 ($2.95 per watt)
Brian B., 2 weeks ago
From start to finish. Sales meeting to final completion. A & R and all the staff I worked with were the most professional, and competent Solar installation company ever. I highly recommend this employee-owned company to anyone looking at a new solar installation.
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.
4.63 1,578 Reviews
Quannella Fleming, 1 week ago
I have called this company numerous times trying to get my referral. Apparently supervisors are in meetings everyday all day! Each month someone has promised to send my referral and it is still not here. I have been back and forth that the person I referred has contacted them as well! Lie after lie! Communication is terrible.
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Quannella Fleming, 1 week ago
I have called this company numerous times trying to get my referral. Apparently supervisors are in meetings everyday all day! Each month someone has promised to send my referral and it is still not here. I have been back and forth that the person I referred has contacted them as well! Lie after lie! Communication is terrible.
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.
4.58 177 Reviews
Randall, over 1 month
I evaluated dozens of solar companies online, and narrowed it down to three for proposals. IWS was the most thorough and transparent of the companies I worked with. They reviewed the property, electrical, and sent pics to engineering before providing a quote which gave me confidence that the quote would be accurate. The install team was friendly and professional and did an excellent job on cleanup. I had my roofer inspect the mounts and he was impressed to the point he recommended them to another one of his customers. The calculations provided in the quoting process appear to be spot on. My installation has been running for about 2 months now.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$15,000 ($3.00 per watt)
Randall, over 1 month
I evaluated dozens of solar companies online, and narrowed it down to three for proposals. IWS was the most thorough and transparent of the companies I worked with. They reviewed the property, electrical, and sent pics to engineering before providing a quote which gave me confidence that the quote would be accurate. The install team was friendly and professional and did an excellent job on cleanup. I had my roofer inspect the mounts and he was impressed to the point he recommended them to another one of his customers. The calculations provided in the quoting process appear to be spot on. My installation has been running for about 2 months now.
4.53 16 Reviews
Liz, over 1 month
I’m very glad that we went with Prostat Solar. Their bid was right in the middle and they went the extra mile. We had our roof redone after they did their measurements and one change was a plastic membrane on a flat part of our roof that required a special anchor for the panels. The contacted our roofers and got specific on the exact membrane and what anchors were needed. They special ordered it for us and kept us up to date on when it would come in. It does not end there; I was doing some research on the panels and realized that in about a month some panels with a higher watt would come out. I contacted them and asked if we could have those. They redid the outline for the solar panels and also contacted our loan people, since these panels we a little more. Prostat Solar went out of their way to make sure that we had the most power that we were able too. Communication through out all of this was great. The crew were very fast putting the panels in place and were very polite and cleaned up after themselves. If it was not for the panels on the roof, you would not know that they came. Very glad that we went with them.
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Liz, over 1 month
I’m very glad that we went with Prostat Solar. Their bid was right in the middle and they went the extra mile. We had our roof redone after they did their measurements and one change was a plastic membrane on a flat part of our roof that required a special anchor for the panels. The contacted our roofers and got specific on the exact membrane and what anchors were needed. They special ordered it for us and kept us up to date on when it would come in. It does not end there; I was doing some research on the panels and realized that in about a month some panels with a higher watt would come out. I contacted them and asked if we could have those. They redid the outline for the solar panels and also contacted our loan people, since these panels we a little more. Prostat Solar went out of their way to make sure that we had the most power that we were able too. Communication through out all of this was great. The crew were very fast putting the panels in place and were very polite and cleaned up after themselves. If it was not for the panels on the roof, you would not know that they came. Very glad that we went with them.
4.52 24 Reviews
Ginny, over 1 month
I can't say enough positives things about my recent experience with my solar install by Blue Sky Solar. They communicated with me every step of the way. My particular experience required my entire roof be reinforced and replaced. I ended up using a roofer they had past experience with and could not be happier with the results. Im still new to my panels being installed so cannot comment yet on savings. I would very much recommend the Blue Sky team on your project.
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Ginny, over 1 month
I can't say enough positives things about my recent experience with my solar install by Blue Sky Solar. They communicated with me every step of the way. My particular experience required my entire roof be reinforced and replaced. I ended up using a roofer they had past experience with and could not be happier with the results. Im still new to my panels being installed so cannot comment yet on savings. I would very much recommend the Blue Sky team on your project.
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 12 Reviews
Jim Smith, 4 weeks ago
I agree with previous reviewers. This company went above and beyond every step of the way. Mike was a wealth of knowledge and answered my hundreds of questions. The level of knowledge he had regarding solar far exceeded anyone else I spoke to from other companies. He was never pushy or tried to talk me into anything, just simply provided easy to understand information that allowed my to make an educated decision. While Power Northwest was not the absolute lowest quote, they were by far the best value of the 5 companies I looked at. A detailed examination of our roof was performed. The install team stealthily put up our panels and left no sign that they were even there. Communication was outstanding every step of the way. Also appreciate that they use USA made panels. I would give Power Northwest my highest recommendation without reservation. Don't give it a second thought.
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Jim Smith, 4 weeks ago
I agree with previous reviewers. This company went above and beyond every step of the way. Mike was a wealth of knowledge and answered my hundreds of questions. The level of knowledge he had regarding solar far exceeded anyone else I spoke to from other companies. He was never pushy or tried to talk me into anything, just simply provided easy to understand information that allowed my to make an educated decision. While Power Northwest was not the absolute lowest quote, they were by far the best value of the 5 companies I looked at. A detailed examination of our roof was performed. The install team stealthily put up our panels and left no sign that they were even there. Communication was outstanding every step of the way. Also appreciate that they use USA made panels. I would give Power Northwest my highest recommendation without reservation. Don't give it a second thought.
4.46 19 Reviews
Wally & Lisa Bowen, over 1 month
National Solar was very helpful from the first appointment to learn more about solar to the installation of the panels. They did a very professional job and was installed in a very timely matter. The only way you even knew they were here is the solar panels on our roof and the yard sign we allowed them to put in our yard. All the staff from the sales person to the installation crew were very professional and personable. Thank you for a great job.
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Wally & Lisa Bowen, over 1 month
National Solar was very helpful from the first appointment to learn more about solar to the installation of the panels. They did a very professional job and was installed in a very timely matter. The only way you even knew they were here is the solar panels on our roof and the yard sign we allowed them to put in our yard. All the staff from the sales person to the installation crew were very professional and personable. Thank you for a great job.
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