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 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% at the end of 2032.
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
29 solar companies in Oregon provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.81 103 Reviews
LakeCityWADeweller, 2 days ago
A&R Solar installed our solar panels and 3 powerwalls. Clean and Fast install. It was done right at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. They all wore masks and were extremely diligent about how they did things. Yes, they had to run very thick cabling from our electrical panel to the Powerwalls in the garage (yes you can stack them to save space). The conduit was installed the basement ceiling. The pathway required them to navigate water pipes, gas, computer cabling and electrical wiring while allowing us free access to downstairs area. Let me tell you - it was amazing and fast. My hat is off to a group of people who really know what they are doing. Later, when our inverter died, it was under warranty, they replaced it no charge. It was done in a week (they had to get the replacement part).
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Average cost (5kW system)
$14,750 ($2.95 per watt)
LakeCityWADeweller, 2 days ago
A&R Solar installed our solar panels and 3 powerwalls. Clean and Fast install. It was done right at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. They all wore masks and were extremely diligent about how they did things. Yes, they had to run very thick cabling from our electrical panel to the Powerwalls in the garage (yes you can stack them to save space). The conduit was installed the basement ceiling. The pathway required them to navigate water pipes, gas, computer cabling and electrical wiring while allowing us free access to downstairs area. Let me tell you - it was amazing and fast. My hat is off to a group of people who really know what they are doing. Later, when our inverter died, it was under warranty, they replaced it no charge. It was done in a week (they had to get the replacement part).
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.
4.59 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.
4.57 178 Reviews
Jane Doe, 1 week ago
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, 1 week ago
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.
4.53 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.
4.52 1,613 Reviews
Tamica, 3 days ago
If I could give Blue Raven a negative 1 I would. They are full of it. I was excited to get solar panels for my first home and now I regret it. They came out installed the panels but failed to communicate that they needed some additional parts and would need to come back . I only learned of this after boxes showed up to my home for Blue nRaven. I called and they advised a tech would come out to finish the job only to have days later to get a text message saying my appointment was cancelled indefinitely. Well that was in August and here it is almost October and still no working panels. I have a product that I am paying for but cant use. I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND BLUE RAVEN TO ANYONE!
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Tamica, 3 days ago
If I could give Blue Raven a negative 1 I would. They are full of it. I was excited to get solar panels for my first home and now I regret it. They came out installed the panels but failed to communicate that they needed some additional parts and would need to come back . I only learned of this after boxes showed up to my home for Blue nRaven. I called and they advised a tech would come out to finish the job only to have days later to get a text message saying my appointment was cancelled indefinitely. Well that was in August and here it is almost October and still no working panels. I have a product that I am paying for but cant use. I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND BLUE RAVEN TO ANYONE!
4.51 21 Reviews
John Dunn, over 1 month
Eleven years ago, National Solar installed fifteen panels on our home in Tangent, Oregon. This summer we made the decision to add eighteen more. National Solar was the company we chose to use. All of their people were very easy to work with, from the install crew to the sales and engineering people. All the paperwork for financing and tax credits were easily done electronically. We highly recommend National Solar to be the company to turn to for the big step of going solar.
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John Dunn, over 1 month
Eleven years ago, National Solar installed fifteen panels on our home in Tangent, Oregon. This summer we made the decision to add eighteen more. National Solar was the company we chose to use. All of their people were very easy to work with, from the install crew to the sales and engineering people. All the paperwork for financing and tax credits were easily done electronically. We highly recommend National Solar to be the company to turn to for the big step of going solar.
4.50 13 Reviews
Steve K, 1 week ago
Great experience with with Power Northwest getting solar installed on my home. Power NW did all the heavy lifting and finished install came out great.
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Steve K, 1 week ago
Great experience with with Power Northwest getting solar installed on my home. Power NW did all the heavy lifting and finished install came out great.
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 />
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