Figures on this page were checked against energytrust.org in September 2026. For the full program — standard rates, batteries, TSRF and how the paperwork works — see our Energy Trust of Oregon guide.
What is the Solar Within Reach program in Oregon?
Solar Within Reach is Energy Trust of Oregon’s income-qualified solar incentive. It replaces the standard flat Energy Trust incentive with a larger, per-watt cash payment for households under a county-based income limit, and it is deducted from your installer’s invoice before you pay anything. Since the federal residential tax credit ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, it is the single largest solar incentive available to an Oregon homeowner.
How much does Solar Within Reach pay?
The amount depends on your utility, because PGE and Pacific Power fund the program at different levels:
- Portland General Electric customers: $1.25 per watt, up to $7,500 per home.
- Pacific Power customers: $0.85 per watt, up to $5,250 per home.
- Add a battery: income-qualified households also get a higher battery incentive — $500/kWh up to $6,250 (PGE) or $400/kWh up to $5,000 (Pacific Power) — on a 3 kWh-or-larger battery paired with the solar system.
On a typical 6 kW home system that works out to $7,500 on PGE or $5,100 on Pacific Power, compared with the standard $3,500 or $2,500 a household above the income limit would receive. The minimum qualifying system is 2 kW-DC, and the roof has to meet Energy Trust’s solar-access standard (a TSRF of roughly 75% or better).
How do I participate?
You must be an Oregon homeowner and a customer of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power, and you must own one of the following types of residence:
- Single-family home
- Manufactured home
- Floating home
- Condo
- Multifamily residence — attached side-by-side unit, duplex, triplex or fourplex
You will also need to work with an Energy Trust-approved solar trade ally contractor who participates in Solar Within Reach. Your contractor confirms that your home is a good fit for solar, gives you a bid showing the cost before and after the incentive, estimates annual savings and generation, helps with financing options, handles the permitting and Energy Trust paperwork, and installs the system.
Income qualifications
Income limits are set county by county and by household size, and they reset each year on 1 June. There is no single statewide table. For a one-person household the ceiling currently runs from the high $80,000s in lower-cost counties to the mid $130,000s in the Portland metro, and it rises with each additional resident — so more households qualify than most people assume.
The reliable way to check is the county lookup on Energy Trust’s Solar Within Reach page, or ask us and we will confirm it for your address. You do not have to hand your tax returns to a contractor: eligibility is verified through Energy Trust’s own process, and we only receive a confirmation of your status.
Go solar with us
Sunbridge Solar is an Energy Trust trade ally and we handle the Solar Within Reach application from start to finish, including reserving the incentive before installation so the figure on your contract is the one you get. Call 360-313-7190 for a free, no-pressure consultation, or request a quote online.
FAQs
How do I determine my household gross annual income?
Your household’s gross annual income is the total amount earned by all residents of the home, before taxes and other deductions. This includes any type of income as defined on the IRS income tax return.
Who counts as a resident of my home?
Anyone who regularly sleeps at your home and is not a temporary guest counts as a resident, including children in a shared custody arrangement.
Can I combine Solar Within Reach with other incentives?
Yes. Solar Within Reach stacks with the income-qualified battery incentive, with net metering from your utility, and with PGE’s Smart Battery pilot if you enroll a battery. It replaces — rather than adds to — the standard Energy Trust solar incentive. The full list is on our Oregon solar incentives page.
How much does solar cost after incentives?
It depends on system size, whether you add a battery, and which utility you are on. As a worked example, a 6 kW system on PGE for an income-qualified household has $7,500 taken off the invoice; add a 13.5 kWh battery and a further $6,250 comes off. It is always worth getting bids from more than one trade ally for your project.
