Easy Steps to Solar

  • Get educated! Attend a free solar workshop.
  • Consider your budget, roof life and sun exposure.
  • Get bids from several solar contractors.
  • Select a contractor.
  • Sign a contract with your contractor.
  • Choose your incentives
    • For solar water or pool heating, you are eligible for an Energy Trust incentive*, state and federal tax credit.
    • For solar electric, you are eligible for a federal tax credit plus either a) an Energy Trust incentive and state tax credit or b) a feed-in-tariff payment for 15 years.
    • Your contractor will submit the application to Energy Trust or your utility to secure your cash incentive or feed-in-tariff reservation.
  • If installing solar electric, sign a net-metering agreement with your electric utility. Your contractor will provide the form.
  • Your contractor installs your system.
    • From the time you select your contractor to installation completion usually ranges from two weeks to two months.
  • If applicable, complete and submit the application for your Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit. Your contractor will provide the form and assist you.
    • Oregon Department of Energy will provide you with a tax credit certificate for your files.
  • Complete IRS Residential Energy Credit Form 5695 to submit with your federal tax return.

* Energy Trust serves Oregon customers of PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas. If you live outside Energy Trust’s service territories, please visit Solar Oregon to see if your utility provides incentives for solar installations.