OR Net Metering

The OR Net Metering is a net metering tracked in the federal DSIRE database as one of Oregon's solar policy levers. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of Retail rate credit. The program does not carry a scheduled sunset in DSIRE, though appropriations and enabling legislation can still be revised year to year. Like every state-level incentive, it is designed to stack on top of the federal 30% Investment Tax Credit rather than replace it.

Layered onto Oregon's underlying economics, this matters more than it might look in isolation. The state averages 4.5 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 12.8¢/kWh, producing an estimated 7,884 kWh/year and $1,009 in annual utility offset on a typical 6kW system costing $17,100. Without incentives that baseline already implies a 16.9-year simple payback — every dollar this net metering delivers compresses that payback further and improves 25-year net returns, currently modeled at roughly $8,125 before accounting for the OR Net Metering itself.

This program is not the only option. Oregon has 4 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like OR Residential Solar Property Tax Exemption, Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate. The state's net metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often determines whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household. Before applying, verify current terms on the official program page, confirm your utility participates, and consult a qualified tax professional about how state credits interact with the federal ITC on your return.