Solar power in Portland, Oregon
Portland is an excellent place to go solar thanks to the broad range of solar incentives available here.
First off, Portland General Electric offers net metering, which makes it easy to offset your electric bills with solar panels.
PGE offer a rebate of $250 per kW up to $1,500 alongside other incentives.
Oregon offers a state tax credit of $6,000 or 50% of the total cost.
The federal tax credit means part of the remaining cost may be claimed as a deduction to federal taxes. The federal solar tax credit can be spread over several years and always covers any system size.
Incentives like these are unbelievably generous and make solar a simple choice in Portland.
Net Metering Broken Down
PGE also offers net metering valuing every kWh exported to the grid at the value of another drawn from from the grid at a later time.
When more energy is exported in a month than drawn from the home you will receive credit applicable to the next month.
Net metering makes wiping out your electric bill easy.
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in Portland,
Oregon in 2025 is
$3.72 per watt. The average system size
in the US is 6 kilowatts, which means the average price of a solar system
in Portland, OR
is $18,600.
(after claiming 26% tax credit and other rebates)
The 26% federal solar tax credit explained
If you have a federal income tax liability, 26% of the cost of your solar system can be claimed as a deduction to your taxes. This incentive is claimed when you do your taxes. In order to receive the tax credit quicker it's best to do your taxes as soon as possible after installation.
What if my tax liability is less than 26% of my systems costThere is the option to claim this incentive over several years if your tax liability is less than 26% of the system cost.
How much will solar panels on my home save me?
The answer to this question depends on your electricity usage. Generally speaking the greater your power usage the greater the potential savings from installing solar.
The average monthly usage in Oregon is only 970kWh per month however, you are most likely using a lot more than this since this average includes condos and small apartments.
The Portland solar panel savings calculator below will convert your monthly power spend into power usage (in kWh's) and then work out exactly how many solar panels you need to offset your usage, how much they will cost based on the prices of local solar companies and the amount you will save. Our Oregon solar savings calculator can do this because it contains a database of the electric rates charged by Canby Utility Board, City of Cascade Locks, City of Forest Grove, Columbia River Peoples Ut Dist, Pacific Power (PacifiCorp), Portland General Electric Company, West Oregon Electric Coop Inc, Bonneville Power Administration
How much can solar panels save you in Portland
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 12.18kW solar system in Portland, OR
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $147, however your situation may vary so try our Portland solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$26,250
Net cost of system
11 Years 7 Months
Average payback time
12,335 kWh
Annual power production
9¢/kWh
Levelized cost of solar energy
25¢/kWh
If you don't get solar
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of this 12.18kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$40,465
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
19
Solar companies in Portland, OR that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in Portland
| System Size |
Cash purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
Financed purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
|---|---|---|
| 3kw | $8,614 | $9,303 |
| 4kw | $11,337 | $12,244 |
| 5kw | $13,986 | $15,105 |
| 6kw | $16,517 | $17,838 |
| 7kw | $19,011 | $20,531 |
| 8kw | $21,430 | $23,145 |
| 9kw | $23,776 | $25,678 |
| 10kw | $26,048 | $28,132 |
Find out what system size you need for your home
Going solar in Oregon
Check out all of the ways energy providers of Oregon can help you be more energy efficient and save money.
The following programs are available:
| Incentive Name | Eligibility | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
| Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems | State | Property Tax Incentive |
| Net Metering | State | Net Metering |
| Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program | State | Rebate Program |
| Energy Trust of Oregon Incentive - Portland General Electric | Utility | Rebate |
| Energy Trust of Oregon Incentive - Pacific Power | Utility | Rebate Program |
Find your local rebates and incentives
Please keep in mind that the best source of up-to-date information on incentives are the solar installers who specialize in your area.
