How do solar incentives work? Energy Trust provides funding to reduce the upfront cost of installing a qualified home solar electric system. The amount of the cash incentive depends on a) the size of the solar electric system you install, and b) your electric utility.
To make it easy for you, the cash incentive for purchasing a system 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.
Energy Trust Incentives
Homeowner purchased systems
I'm a customer of:
|
Incentive/wattDC |
Maximum incentive |
| Pacific Power |
$1.25/wattDC |
$5,000 per home |
| Portland General Electric |
$1.75/wattDC |
Up to $10,000 per home |
Third-party purchased and homeowner leased systems
If instead of purchasing a system for your home, you choose a system installed and owned by a solar service provider (third-party), the incentives for that system will go to the third-party provider as the owner of the system not to you, the homeowner.
Third party solar service providers: please read and follow the provided information to determine whether your offer meets Energy Trust requirements and is eligible to receive cash incentives.
Solar Bonus Package
Receive $400 for completing a solar improvement along with two energy-efficiency upgrades within a six-month period. Learn more.
Home Performance and Solar Assessment Package
Qualify for $100 for completing 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 cash I will receive?
The amount of your cash incentive depends on the size, in watts, of the solar electric system you install. Solar electric systems can be designed in any size—from tiny systems that power a few lights to big systems that could power a neighborhood. Home solar electric systems usually range between 2,000 and 5,000 watts, with an average of 3,500 watts. A 3,500 watt system would receive a $4,500 incentive from Energy Trust if the home was served by Pacific Power, and $5,250 if the home was served by Portland General Electric.
Use our interactive solar calculator to explore how much a solar electric system might cost.
What’s a watt?
The size of a solar electric system is often described in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). One kW is equal to 1,000 watts. Watts are a unit of power, just like the horsepower of an engine.
Solar electric modules are sold with a power rating measured in direct current (DC) watts, often seen as wattsDC. This rating represents the DC power produced by a module under ideal solar conditions. An inverter converts DC electricity from the solar panels to alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used by the appliances and lights in your home.
What’s a kilowatt hour?
When sunlight strikes solar electric panels, they produce electricity that is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), which are the units of energy you buy from your utility. A good rule of thumb is that 1,000 wattsDC of solar electric panels require approximately 100 square feet of space, and will typically produce 1,000–1,300 kWhs of electricity each year in Oregon.
What are Renewable Energy Certificates?
Renewable Energy Certificates, RECs, are tradable financial instruments that represent the environmental attributes of electricity generated from renewable resources.
When Energy Trust provides funding for a renewable energy project, it takes title to a share of the project’s RECs proportional to its share of the above-market costs and in relation to the market value for those RECs.
For example, if a project has $1 million in above-market costs, and Energy Trust provides $500,000 in incentives, Energy Trust may take one-half of the RECs generated in each year of the project’s estimated operating life. If Energy Trust offers less funding than the RECs are worth in credible REC markets, Energy Trust will reduce its share of RECs on a negotiated basis. Energy Trust holds the RECs in trust for the ratepayers who contribute the funds we invest in renewable projects.
Tax Credits
In addition to our cash incentives, your project may be eligible for a state energy tax credit from Oregon Department of Energy and a federal energy tax credit from the federal government. Tax credits, sometimes called tax incentives, reduce the amount of tax you owe dollar for dollar.
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.
All incentives and tax credits are subject to change.
Oregon’s new solar incentive option (feed-in tariff)
The Oregon legislature passed a law in 2009 establishing a new solar incentive option (feed-in tariff). Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power and Idaho Power can apply to be part of the program as capacity is available. A feed-in tariff is an incentive program in which the electric utility pays the owner of a solar electric system a fixed premium rate for every renewable kilowatt-hour generated over a period of time. Those payments allow the owner to recoup their investment over time. This model has been used successfully in Germany.
Portland General Electric Solar Payment Option
Pacific Power Oregon Solar Incentive Program
FAQ
You must be an Oregon customer of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power to qualify for Energy Trust’s solar electric incentives. Systems must be installed by a qualified Energy Trust solar trade ally contractor. Self-installed systems do not qualify.
If you are not an Oregon customer of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power, please visit www.solaroregon.org/otherincentives to see if your utility provides incentives for solar installations.
Follow these steps to install a home solar electric system and get your cash incentives and tax credits:
1. Establish your eligibility. Contact an Energy Trust or Solar trade ally.
2. Get bids from several Energy Trust solar trade ally contractors. Your contractor must be listed with Energy Trust if applying for cash incentives or GreenStreet Lending financing.
3. Select a contractor. Need help comparing bids? Read the How to choose a solar contractor fact sheet.
4. Sign a contract with your installer. Your contractor will complete and submit your Energy Trust incentive application form 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.
5. Sign a net-metering agreement with your electric utility. Your contractor will provide the form.
6. Your contractor installs your system. Typically, it takes anywhere from two weeks to two months from the time you select your contractor to the completion of your installation.
7. Complete and submit the application for your Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit. Your contractor will provide the form and assist you.
8. Claim your federal energy tax credit when you file your taxes. Complete the IRS Residential Energy Credit Form and submit it with your federal tax return.
9. Enjoy your clean, free, renewable energy for years to come!
Questions? Call us at 1.866.368.7878 or contact our solar team.
Your contractor will work with you to complete the proper form for your Energy Trust cash incentive. They will also provide assistance with completing your utility net-metering agreement and state energy tax credit application.
Have questions? Call us at 1.866.368.7878 or contact our solar team.
Energy Trust offers helpful resources for installing a solar electric system at your home. Here are great places to begin gathering information about going solar:
Other Resources
Oregon’s solar incentive option (feed-in tariff)
Third party purchased and owned residential systems
Fact sheets
Consumer guides to PV
Tax credits
Tools and other resources