Maximize Your Savings: A Complete Guide to Oregon Solar Incentives

Oregon offers a range of solar incentives that significantly lower the cost of installing renewable energy systems. From cash rebates and tax credits to net metering and grants, homeowners and businesses can take advantage of multiple savings opportunities to save even more. Whether you want to reduce your energy bills or transition to off-grid living, these incentives make renewable energy more accessible and cost-effective. This guide breaks down the key programs and how to qualify so you can start saving.

Overview of Oregon Solar Incentives

  • Cash rebates are available through the Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) and the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE).
  • Federal Tax Credits will credit you for 30% of the installation costs.  
  • Sell the excess energy you produce back to the grid through net metering programs and earn credits on your electrical bill. 
  • Rural businesses and farms can obtain grants and loans for renewable energy products through the USDA REAP program.

You can take advantage of these savings by purchasing EcoFlow Solar Generators and significantly lowering your electricity bills. Saving with solar panels, also called photovoltaics, is easy since there are great incentives, and they immediately reduce your electric bill. Then, after the solar payback period, you’ll have free energy for at least 20 years.

Energy Trust of Oregon Solar Incentives

The Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) offers cash rebates to homeowners and businesses who are using Portland General Electric (PGE) or Pacific Power (PP) and installing photovoltaic systems. The photovoltaic installation must be new, tested, and approved by Underwriter Laboratories (UL-listed), compliant with all standards and codes, carry warranties on all components, be grid-tied, and be installed by an Energy Trust-approved contractor.

ETO Incentives For Homes

Utility CompanyPhotovoltaic IncentiveBattery Storage
Portland General Electric (PGE)Up to $1000 for an installation$500/kWh up to $6000 per install
Pacific PowerUp to $1200 for an installation$500/kWh up to $6000 per install

ETO Battery Storage (Income-Qualified)

Utility CompanyPhotovoltaic Incentive
Portland General Electric (PGE)$1,000/kWh up to $13,000 per install
Pacific Power$750/kWh up to $10,000 per install

ETO Incentives For Businesses

Utility CompanyPhotovoltaic IncentiveBattery Storage
Portland General Electric (PGE)$.15/W up to $15,000 per install$500/kWh up to $15,000 per install
Pacific Power$.15/W up to $15,000 per install$500/kWh up to $15,000 per install

These short-term benefits will help you purchase and install photovoltaics, allowing you to save for decades. For instance, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) offers a 4000W output. It comes with a 400W solar panel, but it also has two photovoltaic inputs for use with multiple solar panels to achieve up to 2600W of photovoltaic input. The batteries are also expandable up to 48kW, which is plenty enough for a whole-home generator so that almost any home could go off-grid.

Solar Within Reach Program

The Energy Trust offers additional incentives for low-income families to help make photovoltaic systems affordable. The amount is based on the size of the system, with a maximum rebate of $10,000 per home.

UtilityPhotovoltaic IncentiveBattery Incentive
Portland General Electric (PGE)$0.90/watt, $5,400 maximum per home$750/kWh, $10,000 maximum per home
Pacific Power$1.00/watt, $6,000 maximum per home$750/kWh, $10,000 maximum per home

ETO Income Qualifications

To qualify, you must own a single-family home, multi-family home, manufactured home, floating home, or condo, and your system must be installed by an Energy Trust-approved contractor. Here are the gross annual income limits:

Household SizeGross Annual Maximum Income
1 person$62,530
2 people$81,770
3 people$101,010
4 people$120,252
5 people$139,492
6 people$158,732
7 people$162,341
8 people$165,948

With these great incentives, installing the system will be more than affordable. For instance, by installing the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus, which offers 1800W of AC output, you can recharge it off-grid with the EcoFlow Rigid Solar Panels and save money for years.

ODOE Solar and Battery Rebates

The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) offers additional incentives to help reduce the upfront costs of installing stand-alone photovoltaic or photovoltaic plus battery storage systems. It can cover up to 60% of the net cost, with a cap of $5,000 for photovoltaic-only or $6,000 for those with a solar battery system.

To qualify, your property must be in Oregon and score at least 75% on the total solar resource fraction rating, which evaluates the sunlight your system will receive. Equipment must also be purchased and installed by an ODOE-approved contractor.

Here is a summary of the rebate calculations. 

Customer TypeRebate Calculation
​Low- and moderate-income homeowners$1.80 per watt of installed capacity, up to the lesser of 60% of net cost* or $5,000.
​Homeowners who are not low- or moderate-income but are eligible for an electric utility incentive$0.20 per watt (DC) of installed capacity, up to the lesser of 40% of net cost or $5,000.
Homeowners who are not low- or moderate-income and are not eligible for an electric utility incentive$0.50 per watt (DC) of installed capacity, up to the lesser of 40% of net cost or $5,000.

*ODOE defines the net cost as all eligible costs minus any incentive provided by an electric utility or the ETO.

To qualify as a household with low- or moderate-income, the Oregon Department of Energy states that the sum of all incomes of every household member, including unrelated roommates not part of a separate lease agreement, must be at or below the maximum amounts listed below. 

Household SizeAnnual Gross IncomeAnnual Monthly Income
1$52,110.00$4,342.50
2$68,143.33$5,678.62
3$84,176.67$7,014.72
4$100,210.00$8,350.83
5$116,245.00$9,687.08
6$132,278.33$11,023.20
7$135,285.00$11,273.75
8$138,290.00$11,524.17
9$141,296.67$11,774.72
10$144,303.33$12,025.28
11$147,310.00$12,275.83
12$150,315.00$12,526.25
Each additional member$3005.00$250.42

You’ll save for years when you use these rebates, which can help you purchase the EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators. These incentives help make Oregon one of the best states for off-grid living.

30% Federal Solar Tax Credit

The Inflation Reduction Act 2022 extends the 30% federal tax credit until 2032. This Investment Tax Credit gives you 30% of the total cost of your photovoltaic installation back to you in the form of federal tax credits. For example, if your system costs $18,000, you will earn $5,400 in federal tax credits. If you owe less than that in taxes, it will be carried over to the following year. The rates will decrease according to the following timetable:

YearResidentialCommercial
2023 until 203230%30%
Year 203326%26%
Year 203422%22%
Year 2035ExpiresExpires

Net Metering in Oregon

You can save further money with net metering, which allows grid-tied photovoltaic systems to export excess energy they don’t need to the grid in exchange for credits on your utility bill.

Net metering is easy. When you install a grid-tied system, your utility company will install a two-way meter that measures the flow of electricity both ways, into your home and back to the grid. Then, it determines your net energy usage. You’ll receive credits on your bill if you use less than you produce.

USDA REAP Grants and Local Utility Rebates

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also offers the Rural Energy for American Power (REAP) grant. It provides grants and guaranteed loans to agricultural producers and rural small business owners to improve energy efficiency or install renewable energy systems. To be eligible for REAP grants:

  • You must own a farm or a rural business.
  • Small businesses cannot be in towns of more than 50,000 people; The USDA’s eligibility map will confirm your business qualifies.
  • Your business must be financially solvent.
  • For agricultural producers, 50% or more of gross annual income must come from farming.
  • You must be current on your federal taxes with no delinquencies, judgments, or debarments.

Finally, REAP categorizes applications based on total project cost with cost-sharing requirements as follows:

  • Grant applicants must cover 75% of the total cost.
  • Loan applicants and combination loan and grant applicants must cover 25% of the total cost.

REAP offers loans from $5,000 to $25 million, guaranteed up to 85%, with terms varying between 7 and 30 years, while grants range from $1,500 to $250,000. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Oregon Have Incentives for Solar?

Oregon offers plenty of incentives for homeowners and businesses to install solar and battery storage systems, including the Energy Trust of Oregon, the Solar Within Reach for low-income households, the ODOE rebates, the federal tax credit, and the USDA REAP program for farmers and rural businesses. 

Final Thoughts

With Oregon’s generous solar incentives, switching to renewable energy is more affordable than ever. From Energy Trust of Oregon rebates to federal tax credits, USDA grants, and net metering, there are multiple ways to reduce your upfront costs and maximize long-term savings. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or farmer, these incentives make it a wise investment. Start your journey today with the EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators and enjoy decades of free, sustainable power.

ECOFLOW
ECOFLOWhttps://blog.ecoflow.com/us/
EcoFlow is a portable power and renewable energy solutions company. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has provided peace-of-mind power to customers in over 85 markets through its DELTA and RIVER product lines of portable power stations and eco-friendly accessories.

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