How do solar pool incentives work? Energy Trust provides funding to reduce the upfront cost of installing a qualified home solar pool heating system. The amount of the cash incentive depends on how much energy your system will save annually.
To make it easy for you, the cash incentive is applied up front—like a coupon—reducing the amount you pay to your contractor. Once your project is complete, we verify that it was properly installed and then reimburse your contractor for the amount of the cash incentive.
| |
PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas customers in Oregon, and NW Natural customers in Washington |
Maximum incentive |
| Solar pool heating |
$3.00 per square foot of collector
|
$1,500 per home |
Solar Bonus Package
Oregon customers may qualify for an additional $400 incentive when they complete a solar improvement along with two energy-efficiency upgrades within a six-month period. Learn more.
Home Performance and Solar Assessment Package
Oregon customers may qualify for $100 when they complete a solar site assessment in addition to a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessment within four weeks of each other. Learn more.
How do I determine how much incentive I will receive?
The amount of your cash incentive depends on the size of the solar pool heating system you install. Most home solar pool heating systems are sized with collectors that are 50-100 percent of the surface area of your pool. To estimate your incentive, multiply the square footage of potential collectors by the incentive rate listed above.
Tax Credits
In addition to Energy Trust’s cash incentives, your project may be eligible for a state energy tax credit from the Oregon Department of Energy. Tax credits, sometimes called tax incentives, reduce the amount of tax you owe dollar for dollar.
The following description of the tax incentives does not constitute tax advice and cannot be used to avoid IRS penalties:
Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit: Potential Oregon tax credit may be available. View availability and requirements. Ask your tax professional for complete details.
Federal energy tax credit: Potential federal tax credit may be available. View availability and requirements. Ask your tax professional for complete details.
NW Natural Customers in Washington
Washington residents who heat their water with fuel from NW Natural qualify for this Energy Trust cash incentive; however, there are no state or federal tax credits available for Washington residents at this time.
All incentives and tax credits are subject to change.
Eligibility for solar pool heating incentives from Energy Trust varies with customer location. If your home is located in Climate Zones 2 or 3, you must be replacing an existing pool heater that receives electricity or gas from Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas.
If your home is located in Climate Zone 1, the pool does not need to have an existing pool heater to qualify for incentives (Oregon only). However, your home must be heating domestic water with electricity or gas from Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas. NW Natural customers in Washington who heat their pools with natural gas are also eligible for incentives.
| Zone 1 |
Zone 2 |
Zone 3 |
| Benton |
Coos |
Baker |
| Clackamas |
Douglas |
Crook |
| Clark (WA) |
Jackson |
Deschutes |
| Clatsop |
Josephine |
Gilliam |
| Columbia |
|
Grant |
| Klickitat (WA) |
|
Harney |
| Lane |
|
Hood River |
| Lincoln |
|
Jefferson |
| Linn |
|
Klamath |
| Marion |
|
Lake |
| Multnomah |
|
Malheur |
| Polk |
|
Morrow |
| Skamania (WA) |
|
Sherman |
| Tillamook |
|
Umatilla |
| Washington |
|
Union |
| Yamhill |
|
Wallowa |
| |
|
Wasco |
| |
|
Wheeler |
All systems must be installed by a qualified Energy Trust solar trade ally contractor. Self-installed systems do not qualify. Systems must be new, and incentives are not available for replacing components. Expansions or repairs to existing solar systems are not eligible. Systems must be installed in compliance with the Energy Trust Solar Water Heating Installation Requirements.
Oregon customers who do not heat their pool with fuel provided by Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas, please visit Solar Oregon to see if your utility provides incentives for solar installations. If you are a Washington resident who does not heat your pool with fuel provided by NW Natural, please visit Solar Washington to check for available utility incentives.
Follow these steps to install a home solar pool heating system and get your cash incentives and tax credits:
1. Contact Energy Trust solar trade ally contractors. Receive several bids before making a final decision. Need help comparing bids? Read the How to choose a solar contractor fact sheet.
2. Your contractor installs your system. Energy Trust will verify your new system to ensure quality standards have been met.
3. Receive your incentive. Your contractor will complete and submit your Energy Trust incentive application on your behalf. Your Energy Trust cash incentive is applied to the cost of your solar installation up front—like a coupon—reducing the amount you pay your contractor.
4. Submit the application for your Oregon Department of Energy Residential Energy Tax Credit. Your contractor will provide the completed form and a copy of your invoice marked “paid in full.” There are no state tax credits available for Washington residents at this time.
5. Enjoy your clean, free, renewable energy and a more comfortable pool for years to come!
Questions? Call us at 1.866.368.7878.
Your contractor will work with you to complete the proper application form for your Energy Trust cash incentive. They will also complete your state energy tax credit application.
Have questions? Call us at 1.866.368.7878.
Interested in going solar? Here are some great ways to get started, and the supporting resources you will need along the way.
Other Resources
Fact sheets
Consumer guides to solar water heating
Tax credits
Tools and other resources