In short: Medford has the strongest sun of the five Oregon areas we cover, about 1,330 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, a quarter more than Portland. Medford and Grants Pass homes are on Pacific Power, which averaged about 14.0¢ per kWh in 2024. Wildfire is the main local hazard, so plan for fire-season shutoffs and winter storms.
Below: what Pacific Power and Energy Trust offer here, what the Rogue Valley sun means for solar, how to plan backup for fire season, and where permits come from. For statewide rules (annual net metering, the state rebate, licensing), see our Oregon energy guide.
Southern Oregon at a glance
- Utility: Pacific Power. EIA lists it as the only utility in Josephine County (Grants Pass) and, apart from the City of Ashland’s own utility, in Jackson County (Medford).
- Price, 2024 average: about 14.0¢ per kWh for Pacific Power homes in Oregon (EIA-861, revenue divided by sales).
- Outages, 2024: 368 minutes per customer with major events, 108 without; 1.4 interruptions with major events (EIA-861, Pacific Power’s Oregon system).
- Sun: about 4.55 kWh per square meter per day in Medford and 4.45 in Grants Pass (NASA POWER, 2001–2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,330 and 1,300 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: FEMA’s National Risk Index (December 2025) rates wildfire “relatively high” in both Jackson and Josephine counties, and winter weather “very high” in Jackson County.
- Public charging: 86 public ports at 29 locations in Medford and 53 at 16 in Grants Pass (AFDC, October 2026).
Your utility and what it means
Because nearly everyone here is on Pacific Power, the rules are the same across the valley: Oregon’s annual net metering (explained on the state page) plus these programs. Amounts change, so check each page before you sign.
- Energy Trust of Oregon solar: $2,500 per home for Pacific Power customers who use an Energy Trust trade ally (minimum 2 kW). See Energy Trust’s solar page.
- Energy Trust battery: $240 per kWh, up to $3,000, for a battery connected to qualifying solar.
- Pacific Power Wattsmart Battery: $600 per kW of battery output, up to $3,000, plus $15 per kW a year from the second year, for a four-year commitment that lets Pacific Power call on the battery for grid needs. See Wattsmart Battery.
- EV charger rebate: income-qualified customers can get up to $1,500 for a hardwired Level 2 charger or $500 for a 240-volt outlet bought in 2026 or later, installed by a licensed electrician. See Pacific Power charger rebates.
Backup power in Southern Oregon
Wildfire shapes the plan here. Pacific Power says it can call a Public Safety Power Shutoff wherever extreme fire weather makes it necessary across its service area, with power restored only after the risk passes and crews inspect the lines in daylight. Smoke and evacuation warnings can come at the same time. Winter adds the other risk: FEMA rates winter weather “very high” in Jackson County, so plan for storm outages too.
- Solar plus battery: fire-season shutoffs tend to come on hot, clear days, when strong valley sun can recharge a battery. See home batteries.
- Generator: for long winter outages, well pumps and rural homes. Store fuel safely and keep the generator on bare ground away from dry grass. See generators and generator installation.
- Portable power station: keeps medical devices and phones running and goes with you if you evacuate. See portable power stations.
Compare options in our backup power guide, and size them with the battery backup calculator and generator sizing tool. Run a generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house with the exhaust pointed away, and keep carbon monoxide alarms inside (CPSC).
Solar in Southern Oregon
NASA’s averages for Medford run from about 1.4 kWh per square meter a day in December to 8.0 in July, the best of the five Oregon areas we cover. By our rough estimate, a 6 kW system in Medford makes about 8,000 kWh a year, worth about $1,120 at Pacific Power’s 2024 average price; in Grants Pass, about 7,800 kWh and $1,090. With annual net metering, hot-summer surplus covers winter use. These are estimates, not quotes, and the Energy Trust incentive comes off the price.
Check your roof with the solar potential tool and solar savings calculator, then read how solar installation works, what it costs and how net metering works.
Home batteries in Southern Oregon
With annual net metering, a battery is mainly for shutoffs and storms. Paired with solar, Energy Trust’s incentive and the Wattsmart enrollment payment could reach up to $6,000 together if you qualify for both (check that they combine), though Wattsmart lets Pacific Power use part of the battery for four years. Ask your installer how much charge stays reserved for outages. See home batteries, battery costs and battery installation.
EV charging in Southern Oregon
By our estimate at 30 kWh per 100 miles, home charging costs about $4.20 per 100 miles at Pacific Power’s 2024 average. Public ports are fewer here than in the Willamette Valley, so a Level 2 charger at home matters. It needs a 240-volt circuit and an electrical permit. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Medford: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Medford: the Building Safety Department reviews building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work and takes inspection requests online. Its permit guide says electrical upgrades, alterations and extensions need a permit.
- Grants Pass: the city’s building division issues permits inside city limits; we could not load its website to confirm its solar process, so ask before you schedule work.
- Outside city limits: Jackson or Josephine County.
- Utility approval: Pacific Power must approve a grid-tied solar or battery system before you switch it on.
Hire an Oregon-licensed contractor and electrician (license checks are on the state page), and check HOA rules first if you have one.
Cities we cover
- Medford
- Grants Pass
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Southern Oregon energy questions
Who is the electric utility in Medford and Grants Pass?
Pacific Power. EIA lists it as the only utility in Josephine County and, besides Ashland’s city utility, in Jackson County. That means Energy Trust incentives, annual net metering and Pacific Power’s battery and charger programs apply to almost every home in both cities.
Is solar worth it in Medford?
Medford has the best sun of the Oregon areas we cover, about 1,330 kWh a year per kW by our estimate. At Pacific Power’s 2024 average price, a 6 kW system’s output is worth about $1,120 a year, and Energy Trust takes $2,500 off the cost while funding lasts. Get several quotes and compare.
How should I prepare for a wildfire power shutoff?
Keep your contact details current with Pacific Power so you get shutoff warnings, have backup for medical devices and the fridge, and keep a portable power source you can take if you evacuate. A shutoff lasts until the weather eases and crews have inspected the lines in daylight.
What battery incentives can I get in Southern Oregon?
Energy Trust pays $240 per kWh, up to $3,000, for a battery connected to qualifying solar. Pacific Power’s Wattsmart Battery program pays $600 per kW, up to $3,000, plus yearly credits, in exchange for a four-year commitment. Check both pages for current amounts.
Sources
EIA-861, 2024 (price = residential revenue ÷ sales; outages; service territory); Pacific Power Wattsmart Battery, Oregon home charger rebate and Public Safety Power Shutoff pages; Energy Trust of Oregon; City of Medford Building Safety; NASA POWER, 2001–2020; FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025; AFDC station data; CPSC. All read October 2026. Estimates are ours and labelled.