Oregon solar calculator
Size a Oregon home solar system from your electric bill — kW, panel count, roof area, true cost with no federal credit for 2026 installs, and payback.
Quick answer: At $0.160/kWh and 4.2 peak sun hours, a $200/month bill needs about 13.12 kW — 32 × 410 W panels covering ~64 m². Gross cost is ~$31,750 with no federal credit for systems installed after 2025, offsetting $2,400 a year for a ~13.2 year payback.
Your details
Ballpark, not gospel. Ballpark, not gospel. Sized at 78% real-world output with the Oregon sun-hour average (4.2 peak sun hours) — confirm shading, roof angle and your utility’s net metering year rules with a local installer before buying. The savings math values all generation at your retail rate. Under ORS 757.300, PGE and Pacific Power give full retail 1:1 credits with monthly rollover — but the net-metering year resets with the March bill and unused credits are donated to low-income assistance, never paid out. Never size beyond 12 months of usage.
The 30% credit ended — what changed
The residential clean energy credit (26 U.S.C. § 25D) gave homeowners a 30% credit on solar installed from 2022 through 2025. The July 2025 tax law ended it: no credit is available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. That is why every figure on this page is ~30% higher than pre-2026 guides show. If your system went live by the end of 2025, tick the box above to see the credit applied; leased systems may still benefit because the leasing company claims the commercial credit. Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
Typical Oregon system sizes by monthly bill
| Monthly bill | System size | Panels (410 W) | Net cost (no 2026 federal credit) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 6.56 kW | 16 | $15,875 | 13.2 years |
| $200 | 13.12 kW | 32 | $31,750 | 13.2 years |
| $300 | 19.27 kW | 47 | $46,633 | 13.0 years |
Computed at $0.160/kWh, 4.2 peak sun hours and $2.42/W installed, with no federal credit for 2026 installs. Run your exact bill above.
Solar in Oregon: the details
Solar cost in Oregon
Oregon installs run below the national average, but the weak sun stretches payback. The EnergySage marketplace averaged about $2.42 per watt installed in 2026, with market quotes typically landing $2.06–$2.79/W — below the $2.50–$3.50/W national band. A typical ~13 kW system grosses around $31,500, with no federal credit for 2026 homeowner installs — though Energy Trust incentives soften the hit.
What moves the number: roof complexity, panel tier, and how competitive the quote market is in your metro. Get at least three quotes — spreads of $0.50/W between installers are common.
Export rules: getting paid for surplus power
Oregon offers full retail 1:1 kWh credits with monthly rollover — but the year ends every March. Under ORS 757.300, PGE and Pacific Power net residential systems up to 25 kW at full retail with monthly rollover. The catch: the net-metering year resets with the March bill, and unused credits are donated to low-income assistance rather than paid out. Idaho Power (eastern Oregon) switched to below-retail net billing back in 2024.
Practical takeaway: never size beyond 12 months of usage — surplus is forfeited every March. And if you’re on Idaho Power in the east, you’re on below-retail billing, not 1:1 net metering.
Oregon solar incentives
Energy Trust of Oregon pays a 2026 flat incentive of $3,500 per home for PGE customers or $2,500 for Pacific Power customers (through Energy Trust trade allies), with larger per-watt incentives for income-qualified households through Solar Within Reach. Note: the old Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit died in 2017 — there is no state income tax credit, and no federal credit for 2026 installs.
Is solar worth it in Oregon?
Verdict: marginal on the numbers. The calculator puts a $200/month bill at a ~13.2-year payback with no federal credit — modest rates and 4.2 peak sun hours stretch the payback, though full retail net metering and the Energy Trust incentive soften it. Size to 12 months of usage (surplus is forfeited every March), and if you’re in Idaho Power territory, expect below-retail billing.
Questions people actually ask
Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.
How many solar panels do I need in Oregon?
It follows your bill. At the Oregon average of $0.160/kWh and 4.2 peak sun hours, a $200/month bill needs about a 13.12 kW system — roughly 32 × 410 W panels covering ~64 m² of roof.
What is the average cost of solar panels in Oregon in 2026?
The EnergySage marketplace averaged about $2.42 per watt installed in 2026, with market quotes typically $2.06–$2.79/W — below the national $2.50–$3.50/W band. A typical ~13 kW system grosses around $31,500, with no federal credit for 2026 homeowner installs.
Does Oregon have net metering?
Yes, with a March reset. PGE and Pacific Power give full retail 1:1 kWh credits on residential systems up to 25 kW with monthly rollover under ORS 757.300 — but the net-metering year resets with the March bill and unused credits are donated to low-income assistance, not paid out. Idaho Power (eastern Oregon) switched to below-retail net billing in 2024.
Does Oregon offer any solar tax credit or rebate?
Energy Trust of Oregon pays a 2026 flat incentive of $3,500 per home for PGE customers or $2,500 for Pacific Power customers (via Energy Trust trade allies), with larger per-watt incentives for income-qualified households through Solar Within Reach. The old Residential Energy Tax Credit died in 2017 — there is no state income tax credit.
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit still available?
Not for homeowner purchases anymore. The residential clean energy credit (26 U.S.C. § 25D) is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the July 2025 tax law (Public Law 119-21). Systems installed by the end of 2025 can still claim 30%, and leased systems may still benefit because the leasing company claims the commercial credit instead. (Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.)
Is solar worth it in Oregon?
The calculator puts a $200/month bill at a ~13.2-year payback with no federal credit — marginal, driven by modest rates and weak sun. Full retail net metering and the Energy Trust incentive help, but size to 12 months of usage since surplus is forfeited every March.
Figures last checked October 2026. Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly (July 2026: 15.97¢/kWh), NREL PVWatts/NSRDB (~3.7–4.7 peak sun hours), DSIRE, Oregon Public Utility Commission; IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
More US solar calculators
Compare other states: Texas, Florida, California, Arizona, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina. And the national US solar calculator for country averages.
Comparing quotes? The solar cost calculator breaks down cost per watt and the solar ROI calculator maps your payback year by year. Going deeper: installation cost guide, how net metering works, how much you can save with solar and the solar batteries guide.