Bend, OR Solar Installation: 2026 Costs, Incentives & Savings

Solar Power in Bend

With more than 300 sunny days each year, Bend is one of Oregon’s brightest spots for going solar. If you’re a homeowner here wondering how solar works in the High Desert, you’ve come to the right place. This guide walks you through what to expect from solar installation in Bend.

Across Oregon, electricity prices climbed 31% from 2020 to 2024. That has more Bend residents looking to take control of their energy costs. Understanding home solar panels is the first step toward a confident, informed decision.

OREGON by the Numbers

21stMost residential solar in the United States

45Households have installed solar panels

5.2Avg peak sun hours per day

~$54kBend average savings over 25 years

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Bend, OR?

Curious what solar costs in Bend? Our calculator uses real installation data from homes across Bend and nearby areas like Redmond, Sisters, Tumalo, and La Pine. Enter your details to see a local, firsthand estimate—no guesswork, just clear numbers to help you understand solar for your home.

LeaseCash Purchase

Small HomeUp to 2,000 sq ft

Medium Home2,000-3,000 sq ft

Large HomeOver 3,000 sq ft

System Size

This system size is designed to offset approximately 100% of the average electricity usage for a home of this size in Oregon.

Recommended

System

6.80 kW

Your Monthly Payment

Estimated monthly cost with LightReach

$87/mo

As low as

$87/mo

Why Lease Solar?

Following the 2025 Big Beautiful Bill, the federal 30% solar tax credit is no longer available for cash purchases. With a LightReach lease, Palmetto owns the system and still qualifies for the commercial ITC — passing those savings through to you via lower monthly payments.

• No upfront investment
• Palmetto handles all maintenance
• 90% Production Guarantee
• Comprehensive protection program included

Cost Breakdown

Your estimated investment

System Cost

$21,521

Price per Watt

$3.16

Final

Cost

$21,521

Savings

Your total financial benefit

Monthly Savings

Average utility bill reduction

$123

Payback Period

Break-even point

12.1 years

25-Year

Savings

$53,794

Get Your Personalized Quote

Palmetto Reviews

Palmetto Solar has been nothing but solid for me. Their app is clean, easy to use, and honestly kind of addictive — I catch myself checking my energy production like it’s a scoreboard. And the savings on my electric bill are the real deal. Every month I’m seeing the difference. Their customer service deserves a shoutout too. Every time I reached out, they were friendly, patient, and actually helpful. No runaround, no ‘we’ll get back to you someday’ energy — just people who know their stuff and take care of you. If you’re thinking about going solar, Palmetto makes the whole thing smooth, simple, and worth it.

Jesse Richardson

Bend, Oregon

Palmetto Solar is a fantastic solar company to work with. They provide great communication every step of the way. Customer service is excellent! Keeping their customers fully informed of just how simple the solar install and payment set up is; plus keeping my expectations of the process very simple. They are available to speak to, which makes it easy to understand how things work once all is completed. I highly recommend Palmetto Solar.

Maria Margaritis

Oregon, Oregon

Palmetto Solar has been helpful on setup and monitoring my solar panel system. Would recommend this company for your solar panel installation. Yes, I recommend this company for your solar panel needs. Great work.

Larry Turner

Oregon, Oregon

Key Takeaways

• Bend enjoys over 300 sunny days a year, giving High Desert homeowners plenty of solar energy to offset rising electricity costs and generate their own power.
• Oregon incentives can lower your solar costs through rebates like the Oregon Solar + Storage program, Energy Trust cash incentives, property and sales tax exemptions, and net metering.
• Bend homeowners can save around $54,000 over 25 years, and LightReach leasing lets you go solar with no upfront cost or maintenance worries.

Bend Electricity Prices

In Bend, OR, electricity costs keep climbing. Understanding those trends helps you see why more homeowners are exploring solar.

Across Oregon, electricity prices rose about 28% from 2021 to 2024, climbing from 11.4 to 14.6 cents per kWh. That steady increase adds up on every Bend homeowner’s monthly bill.

Solar panel installation lets Bend residents generate their own power instead of buying it all from the grid. With over 300 sunny days a year, the High Desert offers plenty of energy to tap into.

Because solar can lock in more predictable energy costs, it helps protect you from future rate hikes. Over time, that stability can make a meaningful difference for households in Bend, OR.

Price of Energy: Oregon vs National Average

0¢

10¢

20¢

30¢

13.7¢

11.4¢

15.0¢

11.4¢

16.0¢

12.7¢

16.5¢

14.6¢

2021

2022

2023

2024

US Average

Oregon

Bend Area Utility Providers

In Bend, most homeowners get power from Pacific Power. In 2023 (the latest data available), Pacific Power charged about 12.0¢ per kWh—slightly below Oregon’s 12.70¢ state average.

Bend’s rates sit well under the 2023 national average of 16.0¢ per kWh. Access to hydropower in the Pacific Northwest helps keep local electricity costs lower than much of the country.

Even with lower rates, utility prices can shift over time. With 300+ sunny days a year, home solar panels can help Bend homeowners take control of long-term energy costs.

Bend Utilities Electricity Rates

Pacific Power
12.00¢
-25%
OR Average
12.70¢
-21%
US Average
16.0¢
—

Oregon Solar Incentives

Several state and local programs can help Bend homeowners lower the cost of going solar. Explore the solar incentives in Oregon to see what may apply.

Bend residents may qualify for rebates like the Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate and Energy Trust of Oregon programs. Oregon also offers property and sales tax exemptions, plus net metering to credit extra energy your panels produce.

The federal 30% credit is no longer available, but state and local incentives remain. LightReach leasing simplifies things, since Palmetto handles the commercial ITC and reflects savings in your monthly payments.

Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program (ODOE)

The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) Solar + Storage Rebate Program offers residential homeowners in Bend a rebate of up to $5,000 for a solar electric system and up to $2,500 for a paired energy storage system. The program is set to temporarily reopen on June 15, 2026, with $1.1 million in available funding — but demand is expected to be extremely high, and funds may be exhausted within the first day.

Low- and moderate-income (LMI) households are eligible for significantly enhanced rebates worth up to 60% of the total system cost, which can reach up to $7,500 for solar. LMI eligibility can be established through qualifying Oregon Housing and Community Services programs, Oregon DHS/OHA programs, or by providing an Oregon Department of Revenue tax transcript proving household income.

To qualify, your system must be installed on real property in Oregon by an ODOE-approved contractor. The contractor must submit a reservation application before construction begins. For paired solar and storage systems, both must be purchased together from the same approved contractor. Rebates are issued to the contractor and passed on to you as an upfront discount.

Energy Trust of Oregon – Standard Solar Incentive

The Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) offers a flat $2,500 per-system cash incentive for residential solar installations in 2026. This incentive is available to customers of both Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power. Since Bend is served by Pacific Power, homeowners in Bend are eligible for this incentive. The benefit is applied as an upfront discount on your purchase price — your contractor collects it on your behalf, so you see the savings immediately at the time of installation.

To qualify, you must be a current PGE or Pacific Power customer and have your system installed by an Energy Trust-approved Trade Ally contractor. Customers of smaller public utility districts (PUDs) or electric cooperatives generally do not qualify for ETO incentives, though local utility rebates may be available separately.

This incentive can be stacked with the ODOE Solar + Storage Rebate Program, allowing eligible homeowners to combine both state-level incentives for maximum savings. You can request a bid from qualified Trade Ally contractors directly through the Energy Trust website.

Energy Trust of Oregon – Battery Storage Incentive

The Energy Trust of Oregon offers a cash incentive for battery storage systems at $400 per kWh installed, up to a maximum of $5,000 for standard-income customers. For example, installing a 15 kWh battery paired with a qualifying solar system would earn the full $5,000 incentive. This applies to customers of Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power, which serves Bend.

The battery storage incentive can be claimed alongside the ETO solar incentive and the ODOE Solar + Storage Rebate Program, making it possible to stack multiple incentives for a solar-plus-storage system. Installation must be completed by an Energy Trust-approved Trade Ally contractor.

Income-qualified customers are eligible for significantly higher per-kWh incentives through the Solar Within Reach program (see separate listing). All systems must meet Energy Trust performance and equipment standards to qualify.

Energy Trust of Oregon – Solar Within Reach (Income-Qualified Solar & Storage)

The Solar Within Reach program from Energy Trust of Oregon provides significantly enhanced incentives for income-qualified residential customers. Standard income-qualified customers of both PGE and Pacific Power can receive a $0.90 per Watt discount on solar installation, up to $5,500 per home. For battery storage, income-qualified PGE customers can receive up to $520/kWh (max $6,500), and Pacific Power customers up to $440/kWh (max $5,500). Bend is served by Pacific Power.

Under expanded program tiers, PGE customers may qualify for up to $1,100/kW for solar (max $6,600) and $900/kWh for storage (max $11,700), while Pacific Power customers may qualify for up to $900/kW for solar (max $5,400) and $750/kWh for storage (max $9,000). A family of four with a gross annual income under approximately $120,000 often qualifies for these higher rebate tiers.

To access Solar Within Reach incentives, you must be a PGE or Pacific Power customer, meet the income eligibility guidelines, and have your system installed by an Energy Trust Trade Ally contractor. This program can be combined with the ODOE Solar + Storage Rebate Program for maximum savings. Contact Energy Trust directly or submit an online bid request to get connected with a qualified installer.

Oregon Property Tax Exemption for Solar Energy Systems

Under Oregon Revised Statute §307.175, any increase in your home’s real market value resulting from the installation of a qualifying solar energy system is fully exempt from property tax assessment. This means that even though solar panels can meaningfully increase your home’s value, your annual property tax bill will not go up as a result. The exemption applies to solar, wind, geothermal, water, fuel cell, and methane gas systems used to generate electricity or heat/cool a home.

The financial benefit is ongoing for the life of your system. Based on Oregon’s average property tax rate of 0.82%, a typical solar installation could save approximately $255 per year on property taxes, or up to $378 per year for a solar-plus-battery system — adding up to roughly $5,100–$6,300 in total savings over the life of the equipment. The exemption only applies to systems that are net-metered or primarily intended to offset on-site electricity use.

Oregon Sales Tax Exemption for Solar Equipment

Oregon is one of only a handful of U.S. states with no general state sales tax. As a result, all solar equipment — including panels, inverters, racking, batteries, and installation labor — is automatically exempt from sales tax. There is no application to file or special exemption to claim; the savings are built in at the point of purchase.

This provides an immediate and meaningful cost advantage compared to purchasing solar in most other states, where sales tax on equipment alone can add thousands of dollars to the total project cost. For example, in a state with a 7% sales tax, a $25,000 solar system would incur $1,750 in sales tax — a cost Oregon residents simply don’t face.

This benefit applies equally to all Oregon residents, including homeowners in Bend, regardless of income, utility provider, or location, and requires no action on the part of the homeowner or installer. It effectively lowers the baseline cost of going solar in Oregon compared to the national average.

Oregon Net Metering

Oregon’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) policy requires major utilities — including Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power — to offer net metering for residential solar systems up to 25 kW. Bend is served by Pacific Power. Under net metering, excess electricity your solar panels send to the grid earns you credits on your utility bill. When your panels aren’t producing enough (e.g., at night or on cloudy days), those credits offset the electricity you draw from the grid, potentially reducing your bill to near zero.

Credits accumulate throughout the year and are reconciled at an annual true-up each March. Any unused credits remaining after the March billing period are transferred to a low-income assistance program (the Low Income Energy Assistance Program) rather than paid out in cash. Pacific Power credits excess generation at the full retail rate for applicable kWh-based components.

All net-metered systems must meet the utility’s interconnection requirements and be installed by a licensed contractor. Oregon does not currently have an SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Credit) market, as the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard does not include a specific solar carve-out.

Bend Solar Irradiance

Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.

Bend enjoys high elevation and sunny, dry summers, boosting solar production. Cold, snowy winters bring shorter days, but don’t be fooled—with the right system, Bend homes generate impressive year-round energy.

Solar Production in Bend by Month

System Size: 5 kW 7 kW 10 kW

Daylight Hours

Energy Production (kWh/day)

What Can Your Solar System Power?

Summer Production (July)

57.5 kWh/day

In July, your 10 kW system could power:

• 3.8 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
• or Run central AC for 19 hours AND power all other appliances
• or Fully charge 5.8 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles

Winter Production (December)

20.1 kWh/day

In December, your 10 kW system could power:

• 1.3 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
• or Keep your home heating system running for 10 hours
• or Fully charge 2.0 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles

Annual Production

14,831 kWh/year

Over a year, your 10 kW system could:

• Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
• or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 178 trees

Solar Panel Systems in Bend

We’ve mapped solar installations across the United States, right down to the neighborhood level. Explore this interactive heatmap to see how many of your Bend, Oregon neighbors have made the switch to solar.

Solar Customers

218-1260

57-217

13-56

1-12

Leasing Solar Panels

In Bend, Palmetto offers solar leasing through our LightReach program, so you can go solar without paying for the system upfront. Instead of a large investment, you pay a predictable fixed monthly amount based on your system’s estimated yearly production.

Leasing removes the two biggest hurdles of a cash purchase: the upfront cost and ongoing upkeep. Palmetto owns and maintains the panels, includes a production guarantee, and handles repairs—so you get clean energy and savings without the added responsibility. If you’d like a deeper comparison, our guide on whether to buy or lease solar can help.

Go solar without the investment

With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bend, OR have net metering?
Yes, Bend, OR has net metering. Oregon requires major utilities—including Pacific Power, which serves Bend—to offer net metering for residential solar systems up to 25 kW. Extra electricity your panels send to the grid earns credits on your utility bill.

Do solar panels increase your home value in Bend, OR?
Yes, in Bend, OR, solar panels can increase your home value—but this applies to systems you own or purchase, not leased ones. A Zillow study found homes with solar panels sell for about 4.1% more than comparable homes without them.

How much does it cost to go solar in Bend, OR?
In Bend, the easiest way to go solar is with a LightReach lease. You pay a low fixed monthly amount—starting around $87/mo for a medium home—with no upfront cost, and Palmetto owns and maintains the system.

How does leasing solar work and what’s the approximate cost in Bend, OR?
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, you pay one simple monthly payment that covers your solar system, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. There’s no upfront cost. For a typical 6.80 kW system in Bend, the estimated payment is about $87/month.

Does solar make sense in Bend, OR?
Yes, solar makes sense in Bend. With more than 300 sunny days a year and Oregon electricity prices climbing about 28% from 2021 to 2024, local homeowners can offset rising bills and average around $54,000 in savings over 25 years.

What solar incentives are available in Bend, OR?
Bend homeowners can tap several state and local solar incentives. These include the Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program, Energy Trust of Oregon cash incentives (Pacific Power serves Bend), income-qualified Solar Within Reach rebates, a property tax exemption, no state sales tax, and net metering credits.

How much electricity can a solar system produce in Bend, OR?
In Bend, a typical home solar system produces roughly 1,450 to 1,500 kWh per year for every kilowatt (kW) installed, thanks to the High Desert’s 300+ sunny days and roughly 5.2 peak sun hours per day. For example, a 10 kW system can generate about 14,800 kWh annually.