Oregon Solar Calculator

Enter your utility and monthly bill — get system size, Energy Trust rebate, Solar Within Reach incentive, battery savings, no-sales-tax benefit, and 25-year savings.

Your Oregon solar inputs

Monthly electric bill?

Electric utility?

System size?

Income level?

Battery backup?

Oregon solar estimate

15 × 400W panels (6 kW system)

Recommended size for your bill: 7.9 kW

Monthly usage714 kWh/mo

Annual production (OR 3.8 PSH)6,658 kWh/yr

Annual net metering savings$932/yr

Gross system cost$16,320

Federal ITC (30%)-$4,896

Energy Trust of Oregon rebate-$2,500

Net cost after all incentives$8,924

No Oregon sales tax$0 tax

Payback period9.6 yrs

25-year savings$23,302

Energy Trust of Oregon $2,500 rebate requires using an Energy Trust trade ally contractor. Oregon has no state sales tax — $0 tax on solar equipment. Apply for rebates before installation is complete.

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your bill and select your utility

Portland General Electric (PGE) serves Portland, Hillsboro, Gresham, and the Willamette Valley. Pacific Power serves eastern Oregon, the Oregon coast, Bend, Medford, and Eugene's outskirts. Both utilities participate in Energy Trust of Oregon's solar incentive programs. Your utility determines your electricity rate and specific rebate program details.

Energy Trust of Oregon rebate

Energy Trust of Oregon offers a flat $2,500 cash rebate for residential solar installations. To receive this rebate, you must use an Energy Trust trade ally contractor — a vetted installer who handles the rebate paperwork on your behalf. The rebate is paid directly to you after installation. This is separate from and in addition to the 30% federal ITC.

Solar Within Reach for low-income households

Oregon's Solar Within Reach program provides an additional incentive of $0.90/W (up to $5,500) for qualifying low-income households. Income limits are based on household size and area median income. Contact Energy Trust of Oregon or your utility's low-income solar program to determine eligibility before signing a solar contract.

No Oregon sales tax

Oregon has no state sales tax — $0 on solar equipment, labor, or permits. On a typical 7 kW Oregon system, you save $1,300-1,900 compared to neighboring Washington or California. This automatic advantage doesn't require any application or special exemption.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 3.8 PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency ÷ 1000 Net Metering Savings = Annual Production × Retail Rate (OR credits at retail) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $2.72/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Energy Trust Rebate = $2,500 (flat, requires trade ally contractor) Solar Within Reach = min(System kW × 1000 × $0.90, $5,500) — low-income only Battery Incentive = min(Battery kWh × $400, $5,000) — if battery added Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC − Energy Trust − Solar Within Reach − Battery Incentive Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings

Oregon averages 3.8 peak sun hours (PSH) statewide — Medford gets 5.1 PSH (one of the sunniest cities in the Pacific Northwest), Bend averages 4.8, Portland averages 3.5, and the coast gets around 3.2. Eastern Oregon's high desert climate produces dramatically more solar energy than the rainy Willamette Valley. Consider this when sizing: a Bend system needs 20-30% fewer panels than an equivalent Portland system to produce the same annual energy.

Example

Sarah — Portland PGE customer with battery

Sarah lives in Portland (PGE territory) paying $130/month at $0.14/kWh. She wants an 8 kW system with battery for backup during Pacific Northwest ice storms.

Monthly bill$130 (PGE, $0.14/kWh)

System8 kW + battery, standard income

LocationPortland, OR (3.5 PSH)

Result

Annual production~8,019 kWh/yr

Annual net metering savings~$1,123/yr

Gross system cost~$33,760

Federal ITC (30%)-$10,128

Energy Trust rebate-$2,500

Battery incentive ($400/kWh)-$5,000

Net cost after incentives~$16,132

Payback period~14.4 years

25-year savings~$28,075

Sarah's battery incentive of $5,000 combined with the Energy Trust rebate and 30% ITC reduces her net cost by $17,628. Oregon's no-sales-tax policy saves her another $1,800 compared to Washington State. The battery provides backup during Portland's ice storms — a priority for Sarah after losing power for 4 days in 2021. Her payback at 14.4 years is longer than sunnier states, but still profitable over the 25-year system life.

FAQ

How do I get the Energy Trust of Oregon $2,500 solar rebate? ▼

To receive the Energy Trust of Oregon $2,500 solar rebate: (1) You must use an Energy Trust trade ally contractor — check the list at energytrust.org; (2) Your contractor submits the rebate application on your behalf; (3) Energy Trust approves the project and reserves your incentive before installation; (4) After installation and inspection, you receive a check for $2,500. Important: the rebate must be reserved before installation begins — you cannot apply after the fact. If you hire a non-trade-ally contractor to save money upfront, you forfeit the $2,500 rebate. The rebate applies to both PGE and Pacific Power customers.

Who qualifies for Oregon's Solar Within Reach program? ▼

Solar Within Reach provides up to $5,500 (at $0.90/W) for qualifying low-income Oregon households. Eligibility is typically based on household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), though exact thresholds vary by program year. To apply: (1) Contact Energy Trust of Oregon to confirm current income limits; (2) Provide income documentation; (3) Use an Energy Trust trade ally contractor. The Solar Within Reach incentive stacks with the standard $2,500 Energy Trust rebate and the 30% federal ITC. A qualifying 4 kW system could receive: $3,600 Solar Within Reach + $2,500 rebate + $3,264 ITC = $9,364 total incentives on a ~$10,880 system — making solar extremely affordable.

Is solar worth it in rainy Portland vs. sunny Bend? ▼

Portland gets ~3.5 PSH while Bend gets ~4.8 PSH — a 37% difference in solar production. Both can be economically viable because the incentives (ITC, Energy Trust rebate, no sales tax) apply equally. In Portland, you need a larger system to produce the same annual energy as in Bend, but PGE's 14¢/kWh rate means every kWh counts. Portland's typical payback is 12-16 years; Bend's is 9-12 years. The key factor for Portland homeowners: roof orientation matters more in cloudy climates. A south-facing roof in Portland outperforms an east/west split by 15-20%. If your roof isn't south-facing, solar still works but requires more panels.

Does Oregon have a battery incentive? ▼

Yes — Oregon offers a battery storage incentive of $400/kWh up to $5,000 through Pacific Power's Storage as a Service and Energy Trust programs. A 13.5 kWh Powerwall qualifies for $5,000 maximum incentive. This incentive stacks with the 30% federal ITC on battery cost. Combined: on a $12,000 battery, you get $3,600 ITC + $5,000 Oregon incentive = $8,600 in total incentives, leaving a net cost of just $3,400 for backup power. Battery incentive availability may vary by utility and program year — confirm with Energy Trust or your installer before purchase.

How does Oregon net metering work? ▼

Oregon's net metering law (ORS 757.300) requires PGE and Pacific Power to credit solar customers at the full retail rate for exported electricity. This is particularly valuable in Oregon where lower sunshine means maximizing the value of every kWh exported. Monthly net credits roll forward; annual true-up reconciles remaining credits. Oregon's law applies to systems up to 25 kW for residential. The interconnection application typically takes 2-4 weeks. Oregon is considering changes to its net metering rules — check with your utility for current terms before sizing your system.

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