Oregon · Net metering · Deep-stack program

OR Net Metering

Sets the billing terms for excess solar generation sent back to the grid by residential customers in Oregon -- see the credit rate and how it shapes payback below.

Retail rate credit
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
16.9 yr
Oregon baseline payback
3
other Oregon programs
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Deep-stack program · early directory

Oregon runs a 4-program DSIRE stack; this net metering is one layer on a 16.9-year modeled baseline, not the whole story.

  • Stack4 programs
  • In-state #1/3
  • Type #34/46
  • Baseline16.9 yr

In-state directory place #1 of 3 (early alphabet). National net metering directory #34 of 46. Amounts and eligibility change; verify with the official program page before relying on a dollar figure. Informational only - not financial advice. See our disclaimer.

Program description

Oregon utilities provide net metering at retail rates for systems up to 25 kW.

Program at a glance

Program type
Net metering
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
Retail rate credit
State electricity rate
12.8¢/kWh
Oregon solar score
24/100

Solar's trajectory in Oregon

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in Oregon reported to the EIA.

0 MW500 MW1.0 GW1.5 GW 20112013201520172019202120232024 1.1 GW
Oregon now has about 1.1 GW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Oregon's solar incentive stack

How this net metering sits among Oregon's 3 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Oregon tracks 3 incentive types; net metering (1 program) governs the billing side, while the state's other tracked types handle upfront cost or ongoing payments.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

How this net metering layers inside Oregon's deep stack

The OR Net Metering governs how Oregon credits excess solar generation sent back to the grid, one of the state's DSIRE-tracked solar policies. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of Retail rate credit. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. Oregon 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 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $17,100. That baseline already implies a 16.9-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $8,125 before this incentive - every dollar this net metering delivers compresses that payback further.

Oregon bundles a deep incentive stack, so this program rarely stands alone. 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 decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the OR Net Metering sit in Oregon's deep program stack?
The OR Net Metering is a net metering available to residential solar customers in Oregon. The stated benefit is Retail rate credit.
How does this net metering work beside Oregon's other programs?
Oregon utilities provide net metering at retail rates for systems up to 25 kW.
Who qualifies, and why is this an early in-state directory row?
The program is available to residential customers in Oregon. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines. In-state directory place #1 of 3 (early alphabet).
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in Oregon?
Oregon has an estimated 16.9-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,009/year in modeled savings. A net metering like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Which other Oregon programs stack with this one?
Oregon has 4 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including OR Residential Solar Property Tax Exemption, Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology · Oregon solar data · ROI calculator · All incentives.