- This page is about Portland General Electric (PGE) in Oregon, the Portland-area utility, not Pacific Gas and Electric in California, which shares the same PGE initials.
- PGE credits your solar exports as kWh on your bill, and those credits roll forward month to month to offset later bills (PGE net metering).
- The annual true-up is in March, chosen so summer surplus can offset winter use. Any credits left over at the March true-up are transferred to a low-income assistance fund, not paid out to you, so oversizing a system does not pay (PGE net metering).
- Energy Trust of Oregon pays a separate cash rebate that stacks on top of PGE net metering. For PGE customers the standard residential solar incentive is 3,500 dollars per home, paid to your contractor to cut the up-front cost (Energy Trust of Oregon). Verify the current amount before you sign, since Energy Trust updates it.
- Oregon has no tradable SREC market, so the value here is the bill offset plus the Energy Trust rebate, not certificate sales.
- Oregon residential power runs about 15.78 cents per kWh (EIA, April 2026), below the national average of about 18.44 cents, so size your system to your own usage.
- The 30 percent federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
If Portland General Electric is your utility, this is how rooftop solar pays you back in Oregon in 2026. To be clear up front, PGE here means Portland General Electric, the utility that serves the Portland metro area and much of northwest Oregon, not Pacific Gas and Electric in California, which confusingly uses the same three letters. PGE credits the power your panels export under Oregon net-metering rules, and once a year, in March, it trues up your account. On top of that, Energy Trust of Oregon pays a cash rebate that lowers your install cost. This page explains what PGE pays, how the March true-up works, how the Energy Trust rebate stacks, how interconnection works, and how to tell if your roof is a good fit. For solar rules, rebates, and rates across the state, see our Oregon solar guide.
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Portland produces about 7,827 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8, ZIP 97201). At Oregon’s average residential rate of 15.78 cents per kWh (EIA, April 2026), that output offsets roughly 1,235 dollars a year, about 103 dollars a month, before any Energy Trust rebate. We built this figure by combining the EIA Oregon rate with an NREL PVWatts production model for Portland. Your own result depends on your roof, shading, and usage, so treat it as a planning estimate, not a quote.
PGE Oregon at a glance
PGE runs the net-metering and interconnection process across its northwest Oregon territory, while the Energy Trust rebate is a separate statewide program you tap through an Energy Trust trade ally installer.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Which PGE this is | Portland General Electric, Oregon (not Pacific Gas and Electric, California) |
| Service territory | 51 cities across seven northwest Oregon counties, including the Portland metro and Salem area |
| Electric customers | About 955,000, serving roughly 1.9 million Oregonians |
| Net metering | Monthly kWh credits that roll forward to offset later bills |
| Annual true-up | March; leftover credits go to a low-income fund, not paid to you |
| Energy Trust rebate | Standard residential incentive of 3,500 dollars per home for PGE customers; verify current amount |
| SRECs | None; Oregon has no tradable solar certificate market |
| Before you switch on | PGE must approve interconnection and grant permission to operate |
| Sources | PGE quick facts, PGE net metering |
Two things pay you back on a PGE solar account. First, net metering offsets your bill with kWh credits for the power you export. Second, Energy Trust of Oregon pays a one-time cash rebate that lowers what you pay to install. Unlike states with a certificate market, Oregon has no SRECs, so there is no third income stream to chase. Estimate your roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, since production drives your bill credits.
How PGE net metering credits your solar
PGE banks your monthly surplus as kWh credits and trues up once a year in March. Each month, PGE bills you on your net usage, the power you drew from the grid minus the power your solar sent back. If your panels make more than you use in a month, the surplus becomes a kWh credit that rolls forward to offset a later bill (PGE net metering). PGE sets its annual true-up in March on purpose, so the extra power you make in the long summer days can carry through the darker winter months. The detail that catches people out is what happens to any credits still left at that March true-up: rather than cutting you a check, PGE transfers the leftover to a low-income energy assistance fund. That is why sizing a system close to your yearly usage, rather than oversizing it to build a big surplus, is the smart move here. For the mechanics of export credits, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| What you get | How it is valued | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly net-metering credits | kWh credits that roll forward to later bills | The PGE account holder |
| Leftover credits at the March true-up | Transferred to a low-income fund, not paid to you | A low-income assistance program |
| Energy Trust rebate | One-time cash incentive paid to your contractor | The homeowner, through the installer |
To see how the bill credit lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill, and to weigh payback, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it. For Oregon-specific pricing and payback, see our guide to what solar costs in Oregon.
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How Energy Trust of Oregon rebates stack with PGE service
Energy Trust is a separate program from PGE, but the two work together. PGE, like the state’s other big utilities, funds Energy Trust of Oregon through a small charge on your bill, and Energy Trust turns that into cash incentives for solar. For a PGE residential customer, the standard solar incentive is 3,500 dollars per home, paid directly to your contractor so it comes straight off your invoice and lowers the up-front cost (Energy Trust of Oregon). Households that meet income limits can qualify for the larger Solar Within Reach incentive instead. Energy Trust adjusts these amounts over time and works through approved trade ally contractors, so confirm the current figure and that your installer is enrolled before you sign. You claim the Energy Trust rebate and PGE net metering on the same system, so they stack.
How to connect solar to PGE in Oregon
Connecting a home system to PGE follows a set order, and the key rule is that you cannot turn the system on until PGE grants permission to operate. The general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer file a net-metering interconnection application with PGE for review. Most home rooftop systems use PGE’s small-generator process.
- Utility review and approval. PGE reviews the application and approves the interconnection, setting any conditions for connecting to its grid.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed by your contractor and passes your city or county electrical inspection.
- Meter change. PGE sets or configures a meter that measures both the power you draw and the power you export.
- Permission to operate. PGE gives the go-ahead. The system may not run on the grid before this.
A licensed Energy Trust trade ally installer normally manages this whole process for you, including the Energy Trust rebate paperwork. For the questions to ask before you hire, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. Confirm the current interconnection steps with PGE, since utility processes change.
What changed federally, and what it means for PGE customers
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Oregon net metering and the Energy Trust rebate are not. The 30 percent federal Residential Clean Energy Credit, Section 25D, ended after December 31, 2025. A PGE customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (IRS OBBB FAQ; SEIA). PGE net metering and the Energy Trust incentive were not affected. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
One federal exception exists, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner, and it runs for projects placed in service through 2027, with a begin-construction safe harbor by July 4, 2026 (IRS Clean Electricity Investment Credit; SEIA tax policy). On a lease or PPA in PGE territory you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does, and it typically keeps the Energy Trust rebate and the bill credits too. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.
How to choose a solar installer in PGE territory
The Portland area is a mature solar market, so you have many licensed installers to compare. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any installer against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- Proper Oregon licensing (CCB) and any required local electrical and building permits.
- Status as an Energy Trust of Oregon trade ally, so your rebate paperwork is handled correctly.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that is honest about the March true-up and how the Energy Trust rebate applies. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. For more homeowner guides, see our solar resources hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is PGE the same as Pacific Gas and Electric?
No. This page is about Portland General Electric, the utility that serves the Portland metro area and northwest Oregon. Pacific Gas and Electric is a different company in California that happens to use the same PGE initials. The net-metering rules, rebates, and rates on this page are Oregon’s, not California’s.
How does PGE credit my solar exports?
PGE credits the power you export as kWh on your bill, and any monthly surplus rolls forward to offset later bills (PGE net metering). Once a year, at the March true-up, PGE reconciles your account. The true-up is set in March so the extra power you make in summer can offset winter use.
What happens to my leftover credits at the annual true-up?
At the March true-up, any net-metering credits still left over are transferred to a low-income energy assistance fund rather than paid out to you (PGE net metering). Because you do not get cash back for a surplus, the best approach is to size your system close to your yearly usage instead of oversizing it. Confirm the current true-up terms with PGE before you decide.
How does the Energy Trust of Oregon rebate work with PGE?
Energy Trust of Oregon is a separate statewide program funded partly through a charge on your PGE bill, and it pays a cash solar incentive that stacks on top of PGE net metering. For PGE residential customers the standard incentive is 3,500 dollars per home, paid to your contractor so it lowers the up-front cost, with a larger Solar Within Reach incentive for income-qualified households (Energy Trust of Oregon). Energy Trust updates these amounts, so verify the current figure before you sign.
Do PGE customers earn SRECs?
No. Oregon does not have a tradable solar renewable energy certificate market, so there is no SREC income for PGE solar customers. Your return comes from the net-metering bill offset plus the one-time Energy Trust rebate.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit?
The 30 percent federal Residential Clean Energy Credit, Section 25D, ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a PGE customer who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. PGE net metering and the Energy Trust rebate were not affected.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team and current as of August 2026. Figures were verified against the linked Portland General Electric, Energy Trust of Oregon, EIA, NREL, and IRS sources. Net-metering true-up terms, Energy Trust incentive amounts, and electricity rates all change over time, so confirm current terms with PGE and Energy Trust of Oregon before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the Energy Trust rebate and bill credits often go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
