Eugene, OR Solar Panels

The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) Solar + Storage Rebate Program provides rebates for solar and battery storage systems to Oregon residents regardless of their utility provider, including customers of EWEB and smaller PUDs and co-ops. Homeowners in Eugene are eligible for rebates up to $5,000 for solar and up to $2,500 for energy storage. Low-income service providers such as nonprofits, municipalities, and organizations serving low-income Oregonians are eligible for up to $30,000 for solar plus $15,000 for storage.

Rebates are issued to ODOE-approved contractors, who pass the full amount on to their customers as up-front savings on their installation cost. Following SB 827 (2025) and recent administrative rulemaking, ODOE also accepts applications for storage-only installations being added to existing solar systems.

The program operates on limited funding rounds. After reopening on June 15, 2026, the $1.1 million made available was fully reserved, so the program is not always accepting new applications. Homeowners should sign up for ODOE email updates and work with an approved contractor to reserve funds when the program reopens.

Oregon’s net metering policy allows solar customers with systems under 25 kW connected to the grid to earn credits for excess electricity sent back to the grid. When your system overproduces, credits are applied to offset electricity you pull from the grid when the sun isn’t shining.

EWEB customers in Eugene receive an export rate of approximately $0.0399/kWh for 2026.

When you sign your net metering contract with your utility, your credit value is locked in for the lifetime of your system. Any credits remaining at the end of the annual billing cycle are donated to low-income bill assistance programs under Oregon’s net metering rules.

Under Oregon Revised Statute §307.175, the value added to your property by a qualifying solar energy system is exempt from property tax assessment. This means your solar panels won’t increase your property taxes even though they increase your home’s value. The exemption applies to grid-connected systems used for net metering.

Solar typically adds 3–4% to home value. On a $500,000 home, that could be $15,000–$20,000 in additional equity that is never taxed. With Oregon’s average property tax rate around 0.82%, this can save roughly $255 to $378 annually depending on whether batteries are included.

Homeowners in Eugene should apply for the exemption through their county assessor’s office on or before December 31 of the year in which the system was installed, as it is not entirely automatic in all counties. Note that this exemption may not be allowed for tax years beginning after July 1, 2029.

Oregon has no state sales tax, which means all solar equipment — including panels, inverters, racking, batteries, and installation labor — is automatically exempt from sales tax. This is a meaningful cost advantage over neighboring states such as Washington.

Unlike many state incentives, there is no application process or paperwork required to benefit from this exemption; it applies automatically to every solar and battery purchase made in Oregon.

Over the cost of a typical solar-plus-storage installation, avoiding sales tax can save homeowners hundreds to over a thousand dollars compared to purchasing the same equipment in a state with sales tax.

The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) offers its own solar rebate of $0.40 per watt, up to a maximum of $2,500, on a first-come, first-served basis subject to budget availability. This is available to EWEB customers in Eugene, who do not qualify for Energy Trust of Oregon rebates.

EWEB customers also benefit from EWEB net metering, with an export rate of approximately $0.0399/kWh for 2026, and Oregon’s statewide property tax exemption for solar. They may also access the ODOE Solar + Storage Rebate when funding is available.

Because the rebate budget is limited, EWEB customers should confirm current availability and program requirements with EWEB before installing their system.