Author: Bill Hoelzer / Read Time: Five Minutes

PGE and Pacific Power offer net metering for homeowners with rooftop solar in Oregon.

Sounds good, but what does that mean exactly?

Here’s the short version - Net metering allows you to offset the cost of the electricity that you buy from your utility with renewable energy that you generate from your rooftop solar panels.

If your solar panels generate more power than you need in a month, then you won’t see any charges for kilowatt-hours on your monthly electricity bill. The surplus energy creates kilowatt-hour credits that go towards your electricity bills in the future.

So if you build up credits during the sunny summer months, then you can use the credits to reduce your electricity bills through the cloudy winter months that we know all too well here in Oregon

How to Apply for Oregon Net Metering

If you moved into a home with solar panels

Please reach out to your electric utility to make sure you’re getting credit for the power produced by your panels.

If you don’t have solar panels yet

Start by giving us a call at 541.330.8767, or send us a message to schedule a free, virtual feasibility assessment of your solar potential. If solar makes sense for your home, you’ll get a preliminary estimate of the costs and cash incentives.

To apply for net metering, you can pretty much just kick back and relax. Our team manages the Oregon net metering process and completes the paperwork on your behalf.

Here’s a quick overview of how the application process works. Please note that different utilities have different guidelines. For specifics, please reach out to your electric utility.

Net Metering Step #1. Pre-Approval 

We’ll get approval for net metering before installing your project.

Your utility wants to make sure that the proposed solar project won’t impede their ability to safely and reliably deliver electricity to other customers in the surrounding area. It’s relatively rare for utilities to require extensive upgrades or modifications as part of this process.

Net Metering Step #2. Project 

After the utility approves your proposed solar project for net metering, we’ll install the project and then send copies of the approved electrical inspection and Net Metering Agreement to the utility. 

Net Metering Step #3. Start the Meter

Finally the utility will reach out to you to schedule the installation of your bidirectional meter as well as a final on-site inspection to make sure that everything operates safely and reliably. 

A bidirectional measures how much electricity you pull from the grid and how much electricity you supply back to the grid. It’s “bidirectional” in the sense that it records energy flowing in either direction - both to your home and from your home.

How Oregon Net Metering Works

Consider an example where your rooftop solar panels generate 1,000 kWh in a month. Here’s how energy would be measured at the net meter based on the amount of energy used that month.

Pay It Forward

The Oregon Public Utility Commission Net Metering Rules require that any unused energy credits at the end of an annual billing cycle get transferred to customers enrolled in low-income bill assistance programs. 

So if your solar panels generate more credits than you can use, then once a year, the credits go to people in need.

This typically happens in March, but you can reach out to your utility to request a different month for your annual billing cycle to start and end. However, March is generally a good month because it gives you the biggest possible window to use any credits generated during the sunny summer months in Oregon.

Net Metering Oregon: Common Questions

How much does it cost to apply for net metering?

The application is free for residential PGE customers installing solar arrays with a capacity of 25kW or less. However, if your neighborhood has high demand for PGE's infrastructure, then a PGE engineer may need to complete an additional study, which requires a fee of $100 plus $2 per kW.

Why do I still have an energy bill, even when I produce a surplus of solar energy?

Net metering will offset some of your energy usage, depending on your system size. Customers are still responsible for a monthly basic fee, typically $11-13, which covers customer service, maintenance of utility infrastructure, and other services.

Why can't I see the total output of my solar array? 

Your utility bill will only show the difference between the energy that you produce and use. It won’t show the total output for your solar panels. To easily track the total amount of energy that you produce, we recommend using the Enphase app.

Why don't I see credits for solar energy on my bill? 

It's possible that you're not generating a surplus of energy. The solar energy that you produce first reduces your monthly energy bill and only shows up as a credit if you produce more than you consume at the end of the month.

Do I need to do anything to claim my solar credits?

Any credits to your account will automatically carry over to the next billing cycle. The annual billing cycle ends in March. At that time, any remaining credits go to utility customers enrolled in the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, as required by Oregon rules.

Can I change the month that my annual billing cycle starts?

Yes! The Oregon rules for residential customers automatically designate March as the starting / ending month for annual billing cycles, but you can contact your utility to request a different month.

Is it possible to transfer my surplus credits to another account?

It’s possible, but limits apply. For example, among other things, the account properties must be adjacent to one another and they must have the same account holder or co-app. Please contact your utility for more information.

Learn More About Rooftop Solar

Start by visiting our solar resource page for homeowners in Portland, Oregon. You can also keep reading our latest blog articles about solar energy in Oregon.