Solar Panel Installation in Bend, OR
Local sun, utility rules, permits and installers
Bend has about 1,250 kWh a year per kW of rooftop solar (our estimate). Your utility decides what exported power earns, so see the rules for Pacific Power, Central Electric Coop and Midstate Electric Coop, below, then get quotes.
Bend solar at a glance
Utility rules and programs for Bend
Pacific Power, Central Electric Coop and Midstate Electric Coop, serve Deschutes County, so which rules apply depends on your address.
| Utility | Type | Solar export rule |
|---|---|---|
| PacifiCorp | investor-owned | Pacific Power offers Oregon Schedule 135 net metering (reissued effective Aug. 1, 2025): residential systems up to 25 kW, extra kWh carry forward as credits, and unused credits go to low-income assistance at the annual cycle end. We could not read what changed in 2025. |
| Central Electric Coop Inc | member-owned cooperative | Central Electric Cooperative’s net metering credit rate and cap were not confirmed; state law lets co-ops value extra power at avoided cost, which can be well below retail. |
| Midstate Electric Coop, Inc | member-owned cooperative | Midstate Electric Cooperative’s net metering terms were not confirmed; ask for the written rate and cap before signing. |
Program details are from each utility’s own pages (read October 2026). See the Oregon incentives table for statewide credits and a status for every program.
Permits and approvals in Bend
- Community Development Department, Building Division: permit information · (541) 388-5580
- The Building Division handles residential building and electrical permits, which can be submitted online or in person. The page lists permit applications and requirements; check it before you start.
- The utility must approve the connection before you switch on: Pacific Power customer generation (Oregon) · your own utility’s interconnection page.
- Check any contractor on the Oregon CCB contractor license search before you sign.
- Oregon ORS 94.778 makes planned-community rules that prohibit solar panels void, though an HOA can set reasonable size, placement or looks rules.
Fees and steps change; confirm with the office before you start. We have not verified timelines for Bend.
Costs and savings
We do not have verified installed prices for Bend alone. The Oregon figures above show what to expect; real quotes depend on your home, equipment and installer. Try the solar savings calculator, and get at least two written quotes.
Choosing an installer
- License: check the contractor on the Oregon CCB contractor license search and that the license covers this work.
- Quote: ask for an itemized written quote that names the equipment, warranties and who pulls the permit and handles the utility approval.
- Compare: get two or three quotes and compare them line by line, not only the total.
Get solar quotes in Bend
Tell us about your project in Bend. We reply ourselves and match you with a licensed installer who serves your area. It is free, with no obligation, and nothing is shared with an installer unless you choose one.
More for Bend
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Solar Panel Installation in Bend FAQs
Is solar worth it in Bend?
The sun is strong (about 1,250 kWh a year per kW, our estimate), but export credits are low, so solar pays most when sized to what you use at home or paired with a battery. See the Oregon incentives for the state credit.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The federal 25D credit ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025. Oregon has no state solar income tax credit (the Residential Energy Tax Credit ended in 2017), but it exempts the added value of a home solar system from property tax under ORS 307.175.
Do I need a permit for solar panels in Bend?
Usually yes, and the utility may need to approve solar and batteries. Community Development Department, Building Division handles permits in Bend; see the permit information above.
How do I find a licensed installer in Bend?
Use the quote button on this page. We reply ourselves and match you with a licensed installer who serves your area; you can check any contractor on the Oregon CCB contractor license search.
Sources: sunshine and climate NASA POWER; hazards FEMA National Risk Index; utility numbers EIA-861 (2024); prices EnergySage (October 2026) and Generac (U.S.); credits IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue and county assessors; permit information from the city or town’s own page; utility programs from each utility’s own pages (October 2026). General information, not financial, tax, legal or electrical advice. See our editorial policy.