Portland General Electric / PGE
Investor-owned utility
About 20¢/kWh, plus a ~$16 monthly fixed charge. Energy Trust incentives apply.
PGE rates and solar rulesWillamette Valley · Marion County
Solar panel and battery installation in Salem, Oregon
Solar and battery systems sized to Salem sun and PGE rates, designed and installed by a local Oregon crew.
1,205kWh per kW / year (NREL)
PGEMain utility
EligibleEnergy Trust
25+Our installs in Salem
Marion County
Going solar in Salem
A south-facing solar system in Salem produces about 1,205 kWh per installed kW each year, according to NREL's PVWatts model. A home using about 11,000 kWh a year needs roughly 9.1 kW (22 panels) here, and a 7.5 kW system offsets about $1,808 of PGE energy charges in its first year.
Salem homeowners with PGE or Salem Electric service can lower bills and add resilience with solar plus storage. We handle the full process from design to interconnection.
Gray winters get the attention, but the valley's long, dry summers produce the bulk of the year's output. Net metering carries those summer credits forward to cover the darker months.
PGE serves the Portland metro, much of the north Willamette Valley and Salem. Its optional Time of Day plan prices on-peak power (5 to 9 p.m.) highest, which is where battery storage earns its keep.
National Solar has completed 25+ projects in Salem, so our crews already know Marion County permitting and PGE interconnection here.
Local production data
How much solar produces in Salem
July is the strongest month at about 1,245 kWh; December is the weakest at 278 kWh. Net metering carries summer surplus into winter.
315Jan
458Feb
705Mar
863Apr
1028May
1088Jun
1245Jul
1163Aug
923Sep
608Oct
353Nov
278Dec
| Jan | 315 kWh |
|---|---|
| Feb | 458 kWh |
| Mar | 705 kWh |
| Apr | 863 kWh |
| May | 1028 kWh |
| Jun | 1088 kWh |
| Jul | 1245 kWh |
| Aug | 1163 kWh |
| Sep | 923 kWh |
| Oct | 608 kWh |
| Nov | 353 kWh |
| Dec | 278 kWh |
- System to offset a typical home
- 9.1 kW
- Panels (430 W)
- 22
- 7.5 kW annual output
- 9,038 kWh
- First-year energy savings
- $1,808
Utilities
Electric utilities serving Salem
Your utility sets your rate, net metering rules and which incentives apply. Check the name on your bill.
Salem Electric
Electric cooperative
About 11.4¢/kWh, plus a ~$24 monthly fixed charge. Outside the Energy Trust area.
Salem Electric rates and solar rulesPacific Power
Investor-owned utility
About 17¢/kWh, plus a ~$14 monthly fixed charge. Energy Trust incentives apply.
Pacific Power rates and solar rulesUtility rates only move one way: up.
See what your utility charges today and how much it has climbed since 2021. Enter your bill to get your personalized Price of Power report.
Electricity rates by county
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- Under 9¢
- 9–11¢
- 11–13¢
- 13–17¢
- 17¢+
Shaded by each county's primary utility. Faded counties aren't served by PGE.
How it works
One free estimate. Two ways to get it.
Free. No obligation.
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Over 3,500 installs in Oregon
Local FAQ
Salem solar questions
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Sources and method
Production: NREL PVWatts v8 (NSRDB weather data) at Salem's U.S. Census coordinates (44.924, -123.023), 1 kW, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% system losses. Rates: average residential energy charges reported by each utility. Install counts: National Solar project records. Data updated 2026-10-20. Your roof's direction, shading and usage change the numbers, so your free assessment uses your actual address and bills.