Current incentives:

• Beginning January 1, 2023
  • Solar electric installations that pass their electric inspections can receive incentive payments of $600 from the City of Ashland.
• Before January 1, 2023
  • Cash incentive for interconnected solar electric systems of $0.25 per watt for residential and commercial use systems, to a maximum of $5,000 per individual system. Systems will need to verify a total solar resource fraction (TSRF) of at least 75%. 

To qualify:

• The owner of the system must own or be a tenant of the facility where the system is installed.
• The system must be interconnected with the electric service at the facility and be net-metered.
• The system must have at least 2,500 W of panels with total solar resource fractions (TSRFs) of at least 75%.
  • Qualifying systems must have at least 2,500 Watts of panels with TSRFs of at least 75% that are independent (independent maximum power point tracking) from panels with less than 75% TSRFs.
• The system must be installed with permits from the City's Building Safety Division and comply with all permit requirements. 

1. Ensure that you have read all program details and understand all program eligibility requirements. (Please contact staff early in the process if you have questions.)
2. Download and complete the following documents:
   • Application and Compliance form
   • Interconnection Questionnaire 
   • Electric Power Purchase Agreement 
3. Upload completed and signed documents through our online form.
4. Send a roof plan with corresponding TSRFs of each panel.
5. Send a copy of the project invoice.

Questions? Contact Larry Giardina - giardin@ashland.or.us / 541-552-2065

• Why will the solar incentive change on January 1, 2023?
  • Due to robust installations of solar systems in Ashland, the City has expended our entire solar incentive budget for two years in the first year of our biannual budget period. The larger solar incentives offered by Ashland than by other utilities in Oregon have resulted in increased installations by solar contractors from all areas of the state and out of state. To extend the availability of solar incentives we need to supplement our solar budget and adjust solar incentives to be more in line with other utilities.
• Why did the solar incentive change on July 1st, 2021?
  • From the first solar installation in 2001 the City has provided financial incentives for installations and net metering to foster solar electric generation and help develop it as an emerging technology. Often as this technology matures, incentive amounts decrease. There are a variety of other factors involved in the incentive reductions for the solar program, including increased emphasis on electrification through additional programs for reductions of fossil fuel use in the community, social equity across our program offerings as mandated in the City’s Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) and continued efficiencies in staff costs associated with program administration.
• What does a program update look like?
  • Utility staff will review the solar program each January with any proposed changes communicated by February 1 for solar partner input/dialogue. Final decisions will be made by March 1 of each year with a June 1 implementation.
• Are there any other rebates available for solar?
  • The State of Oregon has a Solar + Storage rebate program. They issue rebates for solar electric systems and paired solar and solar storage systems for residential customers and low-income service providers in Oregon. For the most up-to-date information, check their website.