Solar in Portland, OR
With Portland General Electric's electricity at about 18.8¢ per kWh and 1,121 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Portland home today: about a 11.1-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 11.1 yrsOregon: 14.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $33,612after paying $16,790
- Sun
- 1,121kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 18.8¢5% above U.S. average
A typical Portland home, by the numbers
| Utility | Portland General Electric |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 753 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 7.3 kW, about 17 panels, 8,181 kWh a year (91% of use) |
| Cost | $20,290, or $16,790 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,430 |
| Payback | 11.1 years |
| Exported power | 15¢/kWh (Portland General Electric) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.8% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Portland
- Owner-occupied homes
- 52%
- Single-family detached
- 52%
- Median home value
- $582k
- Median year built
- 1966
- Population
- 641,165
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 91
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 83%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 167,772 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Older housing stock. Many homes here were built before 1975. Have the roof and electrical panel checked before signing; a roof or panel upgrade can add thousands. Roof first?
Installers working in Portland
Companies with the most installations in Portland's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Sunbridge Solar 15 installs
- Dpi Solar Dynamic Power Innovation 8 installs
- ION Solar 7 installs
- Elemental Energy 6 installs
- Imagine Energy 4 installs
- Smart Energy USA 4 installs
- Earthlight Technologies 3 installs
- Premier Solar Solutions 3 installs
- Infinity Solar Systems 3 installs
- Neil Kelly Company 2 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Portland
Is solar worth it in Portland, OR?
For a typical home in Portland, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 7.3 kW system costs about $16,790 after state incentives, saves about $1,430 in year one and pays back in about 11.1 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Portland?
About 1,121 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 5% less than the Oregon average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Portland?
Most homes in Portland are served by Portland General Electric, at about 18.8¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by PacifiCorp (Rocky Mountain Power / Pacific Power), Columbia River Peoples Ut Dist.
How much do solar panels cost in Portland?
A fair cash price is around $2.80 per watt before incentives, so about $20,290 for a 7.3 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Lake Oswego 11.1 yrs
- Beaverton 10.8 yrs
- Bethany 10.9 yrs
- Happy Valley 11 yrs
- Tigard 10.9 yrs
- Gresham 11 yrs
- Aloha 10.9 yrs
- West Linn 11.1 yrs
- All of Oregon
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.