EWEB is implementing the following program changes to the Solar PV program: 

• To qualify for an EWEB incentive, solar installations must be performed by a solar contractor appearing in the Oregon Department of Energy's Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program list or approved contractors. For questions regarding this list, including contractor participation, please contact the State of Oregon and/or your contractor.
• Customers will be required to obtain and submit at least two solar system bids as an initial step to begin any residential solar project. Bids are to be requested and provided by the customer from a State-approved contractor.
• EWEB’s 2024 Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) will not be available on EWEB’s website. Customers must go through the application process to receive a PPA with a unique EWEB Project ID for the specific project. 

• Electric service commercial and residential rates and prices.
• For net metering, the excess energy generated over and above what the customer needs from EWEB will be credited monthly to their bill at the current annual rate schedule (2024 Annual Renewable Net-Metered Rate is $0.1045 per kWh).
• For direct generation, the energy generated and sold to EWEB will be purchased monthly at the annual rate schedule (2024 Annual Renewable Generation Purchase Rate (Purchased Power and REC's) is $0.1102 per kWh). 
• Current net metering and direct generation rates can also be found in the Customer Service Policy, Pricing and Glossary Appendices (see Power Purchase Rate Schedules).

EWEB encourages you to work with a solar contractor appearing on the Oregon Department of Energy’s Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program list of approved contractors. This is a requirement for solar projects wanting to take advantage of an EWEB incentive. For questions regarding this list, including contractor participation, please contact the State of Oregon and/or your contractor.

Additionally, working with a contractor appearing on the Oregon Department of Energy’s Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program list allows your project to be eligible to apply for state rebates of up to $5,000 for a solar electric system, and up to $2,500 for an energy storage system. Contractors on this list must meet the Oregon Department of Energy eligibility requirements, including: 

• Holding and maintaining any license, bond, insurance, or permit required to construct or install a solar electric system or a paired solar and storage system.
• Holding or employing an individual holding, the PV Installation Professional (PVIP) certification administered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), or the contractor employs both a PV Installer Specialist (PVIS) certified by NABCEP and a person with the NABCEP PV Technical Sales (PVTS) certification.

When working with a solar contractor, we encourage you to clarify and understand:

• • How much experience they have with solar installations?
  • Will their company be preforming the installation, or will they be working with subcontractors?
  • What kind of warranty do they offer?
  • Do their employees hold a certification from North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)?
  • Is your system being sized for a monthly true-up utility policy? EWEB does not have a yearly true-up policy and systems sized for a yearly true-up policy may be oversized in EWEB service territory.
  • All contractors in Oregon are required to have a Construction Contractors Board (CCB), license. Prior to hiring a contractor, ask for their CCB license number and review their history at the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. You can also review Better Business Bureau reviews and request a reference list of past customers.
  • Seek multiple comparing bids and ensure that the bids include similar components such as system size in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW) and include an estimate of the electricity the system will produce on a monthly and annual basis in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Bids should include all costs associated with the project, including equipment, hardware, labor, permitting, and warranty.
  • When considering tax benefits for your project, consult with your tax professional to understand how and if these tax incentives may apply to you.

As an EWEB customer, you’re already using clean, renewable energy and investing in McKenzie Watershed protection. But together we can do more. Solar panels can supplement the clean, reliable electricity you get from EWEB. But depending on your goals, solar may not be the most effective solution. Before you make a decision on whether rooftop solar is a practical idea for your home, consider the following:  

• Does your site have good solar exposure? About 250 square feet of un-shaded roof space facing south, southeast, or southwest is a great start, though not always required. 
• How much electricity do you use in a year? Review your EWEB bills, keeping in mind that energy use can vary dramatically from winter to summer. 
• What are your financial goals? Do you have a fixed budget? Are you considering financing options, or do you have a certain payback period in mind? Additionally, there may be other more cost-effective ways to lower your electric bill, including energy efficiency measures. Explore EWEB’s residential energy efficiency programs. 
• Use independent third-party tools such as https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/ or WattPlan to estimate the amount of solar energy you can anticipate producing at your home. 
• The excess generation produced by your panels are calculated and trued-up on a monthly basis and does not roll over to subsequent months.   
• All solar electric system installations must go through the EWEB Solar Electric Program independent of incentive qualification.  
• The maximum net meter system size is 25 kW AC output.  
• If a solar system is paired with batteries, there should be no instance where the battery is able to dispatch onto EWEB's electrical distribution system.  
• Average residential solar system costs in 2021 were $4.23 per watt with an average system size of 6.9 kW. Average residential solar system costs in 2022 were $4.69 per watt with an average system size of 7.2 kW. Please note that some of these installations included paired battery systems, so the costs are not fully representative of stand-alone solar system installations. The cost and system size are based on AC output watt. 
• For questions, email or call the EWEB Solar Team at 541-685-7088 before you sign a contract with an installer.

As your energy partner, we're committed to providing you the information and guidance you need to make an informed solar decision.  Read our Solar FAQs and reach out to our energy experts to learn more. 

The residential incentive is $0.40/AC output watt, with a maximum incentive of $2,500, however, please be advised that the 2024 Solar PV Program incentive budget is now fully allocated and no further EWEB incentives will be available for this year.Customers may choose to install regardless of available EWEB incentive budget and will need to follow the same process to apply for pre-approval. 

Our solar PV incentives are funded by customers who voluntarily participate in our Greenpower program. Customers who wish to see continued or enhanced funding for solar incentives are encouraged to sign up for Greenpower for as little as $1.50 per month. Those who can afford more can invest more by matching up to 100 percent of their electricity consumption. 

Learn more about Greenpower

Some solar system installations may be eligible for federal tax credits and state rebates in addition to incentives provided by EWEB. For questions on how or if any tax credits may apply to you, please consult a licensed tax professional. 

• Customers must obtain at least two bids as part of their application process. 
• All PV modules, inverters, and battery energy storage systems must be listed and rated in the California Energy Commission’s Solar Equipment Lists. 
• All interconnection equipment must meet EWEB’s published Interconnection Requirements (see ECA5A8000) and EWEB’s Customer Service Policies and Procedures (see Power Purchase Rate Schedules and Applicability pages 55 – 57). 
• Installation must be performed by a solar contractor listed in the State of Oregon approved contractor list. 
• Project must meet a minimum Total Solar Resource Factor (TSRF) of 85 percent (for incentive qualification only) 

As we transition to a new customer information and billing system, we have temporarily paused program applications. We will begin accepting new applications in early December when we have transitioned to our new systems. 

We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. EWEB staff will still be available to answer all questions regarding our efficiency and water conservation programs during this period.  

Learn more about our system upgrades and scheduled downtime here.