Going solar in Oregon is a great opportunity for residents to reduce their carbon footprints and save thousands of dollars in energy costs over time. Given the high demand for solar equipment and installations in the area, there are tons of solar companies popping up that can handle your system design and installation. In this guide, we’ll be discussing which ones are the most reliable and some things you should consider before choosing.
Best Solar Installation Companies in Oregon
Oregon is home to 55 solar installation companies, and picking one for your solar project can be intimidating. We’ve sifted through the dozens of companies for you and have determined that the seven installers below are the best and most reputable in the area:
- Best Overall: SunPower
- Best Financing Options: Blue Raven Solar
- Best Local Installer: Sunlight Solar
- Most Knowledgeable: Sunbridge Solar
- Best Customer Service: Purelight Power
- Best Customization: Power Northwest
- Best Technology: Tesla
Compare the Best Solar Companies in Oregon
Compare the Best Solar Companies in Oregon
| Company | Our Take | Our Rating | BBB Rating | Warranty | In-House Installation | Cost |
| SunPower | Overall | 9.8 | A+ | 25 years for equipment, workmanship, and efficiency | Sometimes | $$$$ |
| Blue Raven Solar | Best Solar Financing | 9.6 | A+ | 25 years for equipment | Yes | $$ |
| Sunlight Solar | Best Local Installer | 9.5 | A+ | 25 years for equipment, 10 years for workmanship, and 5 years for power production | Yes | $$$$ |
| Sunbridge Solar | Most Knowledgeable | 9.2 | N/A | 25 years for equipment plus 10 years for workmanship | Yes | $$ |
| Purelight Power | Best Customer Reviews | 9.4 | A | 25 years for power production, 20 years for equipment, and 10 years for workmanship | Yes | $$$ |
| Power Northwest | Best Customization | 9.2 | A+ | 25 years for equipment plus 10 for workmanship | Yes | $$$ |
| Tesla | Best Technology | 9.1 | B | 25 years for equipment plus 10 years overall | No | $$ |
1. SunPower
SunPower is one of the most widely-known names in the solar industry. This company installs top-of-the-line panels and offers a wide array of financing options to keep solar energy solutions accessible to everyone. Its prices are still a bit high, but the quality is outstanding.
Pros
- High-efficiency solar panels
- Many financing options available
- Large service area
- Reputable and reliable
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
Cons
- Expensive
- Only one panel brand offered
Company Profile: Cost, Warranty, & Services
SunPower is a bit on the expensive side, but most customers agree that the quality-to-value ratio is still outstanding. We’ll go over some of the more important aspects of this company below.
Average Cost
SunPower panels typically total between $2.85 and $3.25 per watt. This is higher than the national average and the average in OR. With the average system in the area sitting around 9.5 kW, you can expect a system from this company to total between $27,000 and $31,000 before any solar incentives or tax credits.
Warranty
SunPower has one of the best warranty coverage plans in the entire industry. It covers equipment, workmanship, and solar panel energy production for 25 years.
Solar Services
SunPower installs solar panels, solar batteries, and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The company also offers free solar monitoring with every installation.
Financing Options
SunPower might be expensive, but it’s accessible to most homeowners because of the financing options offered. You can pay for your system via cash purchase, solar loan, solar lease, or power purchase agreement (PPA).
Specials or Incentives Offered
SunPower pays out $100 for referrals, so you can earn a bit of money on the side while you support clean energy. However, this is one of the less impressive solar referral programs in the area.
In-House or Contracted Installations
SunPower is going through some internal changes at the moment. It previously just manufactured panels and outsourced all of the installation work. Now, its sister company, Maxeon, manufactures panels, and SunPower is moving to all in-house installations.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
SunPower only installs Maxeon panels. However, these are widely considered the best in the industry, at least from an efficiency and warranty standpoint.
Partnerships
SunPower is a BBB-certified company, and many of its installers are certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). The company is also partnering with AAA to provide discounts to members, and it’s responsible for taking Levi’s Stadium in California solar.
2. Blue Raven Solar
Blue Raven Solar is a key player in the solar industry in Oregon. It prides itself on providing one of the best financing programs for solar panels and making owning solar accessible to everyone. However, Blue Raven only installs solar panels and no other products.
Pros
- Best financing program in the industry
- High-quality equipment
- Large service area and open availability
- Excellent warranty coverage
Cons
- Only installs solar panels
- Limited financing options
Company Profile: Cost, Warranty, & Services
Blue Raven Solar not only has an outstanding financing program, but it also maintains relatively low prices for all of its products and services. We’ll discuss some additional information about this company below.
Average Cost
Blue Raven’s website notes that the national average cost for solar panel installations is around $14,000 after the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC). Since the average system in Oregon will hover around $18,000 and Blue Raven is below average in cost, so you can expect prices between $15,000 and $17,000.
Warranty
Blue Raven couples affordability with excellent system protection. Its warranty includes the manufacturer’s warranty as well as an additional 25-year warranty for all equipment.
Solar Services
Blue Raven only installs solar panels, so its services are quite limited. It has noted that it will begin installing solar batteries in 2022, but it doesn’t offer this service yet.
Financing Options
Blue Raven has what many consider to be the best and most affordable solar financing program available: the BluePower Plus+ program. This program lets you finance 100% of your panels with a low APR and no payments due for 18 months. Plus, there are no-money-down options to make solar super affordable.
Specials or Incentives Offered
Blue Raven agrees to pay a $1,000 bonus for each of the first two customers you refer to the company. The third and subsequent customers will be met with a $1,500 referral bonus.
In-House or Contracted Installations
Blue Raven is a massive solar company, but it manages all of its installations with an in-house team of professionals. This is partially why the company is able to maintain such outstanding customer service ratings despite its size.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Blue Raven installs several tier-one solar brands, including Canadian Solar, Enphase, Solar Edge, Hyundai, SMA, SolarWorld, Trina, and Axitec.
Partnerships
Blue Raven donates a portion of every solar panel installation to GivePower, which provides clean drinking water to third-world countries.
3. Sunlight Solar
Sunlight Solar is much smaller than our top two picks, so its service area within Oregon is limited. However, it does serve Bend, Portland, and the surrounding cities, including Tualatin, Eugene, Oregon City, Hillsboro, Gresham, and more. Sunlight Solar prides itself on outstanding customer service, and it lives up to its reputation.
Pros
- Stellar customer service
- Good warranty coverage
- Many years of experience
- Nice range of products and services
Cons
- Expensive
- Limited service area
Company Profile: Cost, Warranty, & Services
Sunlight Solar’s products and services are on the expensive side, but many customers agree that the high cost is worth the investment for the quality of services. We’ll discuss Sunlight Solar’s products and services in more depth below.
Average Cost
Sunlight Solar notes on its website that prices fluctuate widely based on many factors. Its sample pricing suggests that the average system it installs is around $18,500 after the tax credit. However, this is for a smaller system size than is commonly needed in Oregon, so you can expect to pay above average for a system from this company.
Warranty
Sunlight Solar has good warranty coverage, which includes 25 years of coverage for the equipment from both the manufacturer and installer. The 10-year workmanship and 5-year power production warranties are good, but they are below average for the industry.
Solar Services
Sunlight Solar installs solar panels and battery backup systems. It also installs EV chargers and can handle ground-mounted solar and solar awnings if needed.
Financing Options
Sunlight Solar only accepts cash purchases and solar financing, so you won’t be able to pay for a system from this company using a lease or PPA.
Specials or Incentives Offered
Sunlight Solar has a referral program that offers $600 for each referral you send to the company. This is an excellent way to promote renewable energy.
In-House or Contracted Installations
Sunlight Solar has a dedicated installation team that carries out all of the company’s installations. It will never use third-party installers for your photovoltaic system.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Sunlight Solar installs equipment from QCells, Enphase, Silfab, and Mission Solar Energy.
Partnerships
Sunlight Solar has several NABCEP-certified installers, and the company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It also partners with Solar for All Oregon to make solar more accessible, Proud Ground to make first-time homeownership more affordable, and several nonprofits in Oregon.
4. Sunbridge Solar
Sunbridge Solar is a relatively small local company that only serves Oregon and Washington. Its team is highly trained and knowledgeable about local solar incentives and energy needs, and it brings outstanding customer service to each installation.
Pros
- Years of local experience
- Knowledgeable about local incentives
- Good warranty coverage
- Affordable
Cons
- Comparatively small service area
- Not accredited by the BBB
Company Profile: Cost, Warranty, & Services
Sunbridge Solar is a highly-ranked local solar installer known for its widespread knowledge about local incentives. It comes in around average in price, but the quality of service you get is more impressive than you’d find from most competitors.
Average Cost
Sunbridge notes on its website that the systems it installs in Oregon typically come in around $12,000 before incentives. This is well below the average in the area, so it’s possible that this is for a smaller-than-average system.
Warranty
Sunbridge covers all of its equipment for 25 years, and it also offers a 10-year workmanship warranty that covers the installation process.
Solar Services
Sunbridge Solar installs solar panels, backup batteries, and EV chargers. It also installs commercial solar systems, and it can provide solar electric system cleaning and maintenance services if needed.
Financing Options
Sunbridge Solar only accepts cash purchases and solar loans from third-party financiers. You’ll have to choose a different company if you prefer to go through a solar lease or PPA.
Specials or Incentives Offered
If you refer customers to Sunbridge who eventually install solar with the company, you’ll earn a $500 bonus for each one.
In-House or Contracted Installations
Sunbridge installs all of its own equipment. The installation team is extremely professional and knowledgeable, which is one of the major upsides of working with this company.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
This company provides access to quite a few solar equipment brands. These include Canadian Solar, Solar Edge, Enphase, SMA, LG, Hyundai, Solaria, Silfab, and Outback Power Systems.
Partnerships
Sunbridge has many NABCEP-certified installers on its team, and the company is a certified B Corporation. Additionally, it partners with local nonprofits to bring solar to more people and businesses throughout Oregon.
5. Purelight Power
Purelight Power was founded in 2019, but it has grown quite quickly and already has a reputation for good customer service. Its warranty coverage is good, and it provides some tier-one solar equipment brands.
Pros
- Good customer service
- Local experience
- Great warranty coverage
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- Only in business a few years
- No leases or PPAs available
Company Profile: Cost, Warranty, & Services
Purelight Power provides the prices you’d expect from a larger, national company but the customer service and communication you might expect from a smaller, local company. We’ll include some additional information about this company in the following sections.
Average Cost
Purelight Power doesn’t offer pricing estimates on its website. However, it typically comes in around average, so you can expect to pay around $18,000 for a system from this company after the ITC.
Warranty
Purelight provides great warranties to all customers. These include a 25-year performance and production guarantee, a 20-year warranty on all equipment, and a 10-year warranty on workmanship and installation.
Solar Services
Purelight Power installs solar panels, solar batteries, and EV chargers. It also provides solar monitoring services.
Financing Options
Purelight Power accepts solar loans and cash purchases, but it doesn’t entertain solar leases or PPAs. We don’t recommend these options anyway, but they are nice to have for accessibility.
In-House or Contracted Installations
Purelight Power handles its own installations, so you can be sure you’ll never get stuck with poor customer service from a third-party company. Purelight’s installation team has a relatively small service area, though, which includes Ashland, Bend, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Medford, Portland, Roseburg, Salem, and the surrounding areas.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Purelight Power offers many different solar equipment brands for a nice range of efficiency and pricing. These include SunPower, Hyundai, Yingli, Enphase, Canadian Solar, Solar Edge, Tesla, SMA, Pika Energy, and AP Systems.
Partnerships
Purelight Power has several NABCEP-certified installers on its installation team, and the company is accredited by the BBB.
6. Power Northwest
Power Northwest is another small, local solar installer that operates exclusively in northwest Oregon. As a small company, it brings outstanding customer service and attention to detail to each and every solar installation it tackles.
Pros
- Great customer service
- Many customization options for systems
- Energy efficiency upgrades available
- Good warranty coverage
Cons
- Small service area
- Relatively young company
Company Profile: Cost, Warranty, & Services
Power Northwest provides outstanding customer service and good warranty coverage, all at an average price point. We’ll go into some additional details about this company below.
Average Cost
Power Northwest doesn’t provide average pricing for its systems or services. However, its typical pricing is around the average for the area. You can expect a system total of around $18,000 after tax incentives and rebates.
Warranty
Power Northwest provides a 25-year warranty for all equipment that it installs, plus a 10-year warranty for the installation services. The workmanship coverage is below the industry standard, but it’s still decent.
Solar Services
This company can install solar panels, solar batteries, and EV chargers. It also offers solar monitoring, commercial solar installations, roofing, electrical service panel upgrades, and a slew of energy efficiency upgrades. The variety of services offered by this company is outstanding, especially if you’re looking to maximize your home’s efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint rather than just install panels.
Financing Options
Power Northwest only accepts cash purchases and solar loans.
Specials or Incentives Offered
Power Northwest has a referral program that offers bonuses for referred customers, but there are no specifics regarding what you can earn for each referral on the website.
In-House or Contracted Installations
Power Northwest handles all of its own installations. None of the work — from the consultation through the installation and beyond — will be outsourced at any point.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Power Northwest offers several tier-one solar brands. You will have access to equipment from QCells, Hyundai, Enphase, Solaria, Solar Edge, Tesla, LG, SunPower, and REC.
Partnerships
This company partners with the Portland Clean Energy Fund, which helps promote the local solar industry in the State of Oregon. It’s also accredited by the BBB, and many of the installers have their NABCEP certification.
7. Tesla
Tesla is a powerhouse in the solar industry, despite its reputation as a luxury electric vehicle company. It manufactures its own solar panels and solar shingles, which are high quality. It’s also responsible for the Tesla Powerwall, which is commonly referred to as the best solar battery available for residential solar installations.
Pros
- Massive service area
- Price match guarantee
- High-quality and high-efficiency equipment
- Many years of experience
Cons
- Outsources installations to third parties
- No leases or PPAs available
- Only one brand of equipment available
- Workmanship warranty is lacking
Company Profile: Cost, Warranty, & Services
Tesla’s products and services are quite expensive on their own, but they offer a price match guarantee, which means the overall pricing is very competitive. We’ll discuss Tesla’s average cost, warranty coverage, and more below.
Average Cost
Tesla agrees to match pricing from competitors, which means it’s possible that you can get its high-tech equipment at below-average prices. You could find yourself paying less than $15,000 after the ITC for a system from Tesla, although this varies quite a bit.
Warranty
Tesla’s equipment comes with a standard 25-year warranty. However, the workmanship warranty is only for 10 years, which is shorter than the industry standard.
Solar Services
Tesla offers solar panel installations, solar battery installations, EV chargers, and solar monitoring. It’s also one of the few companies that manufacture and install solar roof shingles, which are one of the most energy-efficient roof options available for homes in Oregon.
Financing Options
Tesla only accepts cash purchases and solar financing. Solar leases and PPAs are not an option.
In-House or Contracted Installations
One drawback of working with Tesla is that the company doesn’t perform any of its own installations. All work is outsourced to certified third-party companies. This means that the customer service experience will vary quite a lot, depending on which installer is assigned to your solar project.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Tesla only installs equipment that it manufactures in-house, so you won’t have any options when it comes to equipment brands.
Partnerships
Tesla is a BBB-accredited company, but there are no other affiliations or partnerships within the solar industry.
Final Verdict: The Best Solar Company in Oregon
Oregonians have dozens of options when it comes to solar installers, which makes it difficult to choose one company to handle your solar system. Thankfully, we’ve done the intensive research for you and have assessed the top solar companies in the Beaver State, so our rankings should help you decide which solar contractor is right for you and your home.
Our top pick is SunPower, which is a national company that provides the top solar equipment in the industry. This company has been in business since 1985, so it has tons of experience behind it. Plus, SunPower offers a comprehensive 25-year warranty, which is considered one of the best ones available.
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Best Solar Company in Oregon
If you’re not convinced that one of the installers reviewed above is right for you, or you’re just not sure which one is best for your purposes, you might need to do some additional research. When you’re considering hiring a solar company in Oregon, there are a few things you need to prioritize over other factors. We’ll discuss the most important considerations below.
Cost of Services & Installation
It should come as no surprise that solar panel cost is an important factor. There are dozens of solar installers that operate in Oregon, and all of them have different pricing structures for equipment and labor. This is especially true when considering the national companies that operate in Oregon — like SunPower and Blue Raven Solar — as they compare to the local companies — like Sunlight Solar and Sunbridge Solar.
Since solar systems are naturally so expensive, we suggest ruling out companies that fall well above your budget. Of the companies you can comfortably afford, we recommend comparing them based on the quality of the products and services they offer.
Equipment and Damages Warranty
Solar panel systems in Oregon will likely cost you around $18,000 after incentives, which is above the national average. This means it’s especially important to have solid warranty coverage in the area to protect your investment. A good equipment warranty will provide peace of mind and could end up saving you money on repairs in the long run.
More important in Oregon is a warranty that covers the efficiency and power production of your solar panels. Many cities in OR receive a lot of rain and cloudy weather, with Portland receiving 144 days of sun per year and Seattle receiving around 152. These are well below the national average of 205, which means you’ll want to ensure your panels are working at maximum capacity for as long as possible to make your solar investment worthwhile.
Solar Services Offered
Not every solar provider is considered a full-service installer. While companies like SunPower install panels, batteries, and EV chargers and provide solar monitoring, some companies — like Blue Raven — only handle panel installations. If you know what products and services you want to be installed in your home, you can rule out companies that don’t provide those options.
Financing Options
With the average solar system cost of around $18,000 in Oregon, most homeowners will be turning to some kind of financing rather than paying upfront in cash. The typical payment options include cash purchases, solar loans, solar leases, and power purchase agreements (PPAs). If you know which one suits you best, you can rule out companies that don’t have that as an option.
It’s worth noting that the average time it takes for your solar system to pay itself off in Oregon is longer than the national average, in part because of the lack of sunlight. Choosing a cash purchase will lead to the greatest savings, followed by a solar loan, and then solar leases and PPAs.
Do They Contract Installation?
Some solar companies have in-house installation teams that work directly for the company. These installers typically have a better handle on managing the installation, which means you are likely to get better customer service and customer care. Other companies — like Tesla — outsource all of their installations to third-party companies. This often yields lower prices, but customer service can vary based on the installer you get.
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
It surprises some homeowners that not every installer can provide access to whatever solar equipment brands they want. Some installers — like SunPower and Tesla — only install single brands, while others offer a variety of options.
Many solar customers in Oregon opt for tier-one, high-efficiency panels to ensure they produce enough energy even in the cloudy weather in the area. Brands like SunPower, Panasonic, and LG are a bit more costly than other options, but they’re more likely to make maximum use of the limited sun in OR and could save you more money than other panel options over time.
Average Online Rating and Customer Reviews
Unfortunately, you never quite know what to expect from a solar panel company based on its website alone. That’s why we recommend reading through customer reviews on sites like Google Reviews and Yelp. This helps give you an idea of the kind of customer service and attention you’ll get if you choose that company. In some cases, you might avoid a less-than-reputable company if you read through some negative reviews first.
Industry Partnerships
For many companies, the solar industry is about more than profit, and the installers who have industry partnerships and affiliations are more likely to be in the business for more than just money. We recommend looking for companies with BBB accreditation and NABCEP certification. Other partnerships with nonprofits and community solar farms also help establish that a company is reputable and reliable.
Size of Company
Finally, you should consider how large the company is, as this can have a surprisingly significant effect on your overall experience.
Large, national companies are usually cheaper because they can discount equipment and might outsource installations to more affordable companies. However, they’re less likely to provide above-average customer service. Small, local companies in Oregon — like Sunlight Solar — are small enough to give each customer the attention and care they deserve, but they’re usually a bit more expensive.
You’ll have to decide which of these experiences will suit you better.
Today’s Homeowner’s Solar Companies Rating Methodology
At Today’s Homeowner, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each solar energy company/service according to our methodology.
Our research team dug deep into the fine print of contracts, combed through more than one hundred customer reviews, and thoroughly investigated all of each solar energy company’s services, costs, and products. We’ve done the homework for you by researching nearly all of the solar energy companies on the market so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.
We developed a formula to objectively determine the best solar energy companies and give each a score out of 100 based on the following criteria:
Plan Options (30): Do they provide a variety of plan options? We looked at the number of plans each solar energy company offered and the flexibility of adjusting the plan.
Services offered (20): How many services are offered in each plan? We looked at whether the company manufactures its own solar panels, whether it contracts out installation, and what additional products each company offers.
Trust (10): What do customers say after their solar panels are installed? Does this company offer a guarantee? We considered how satisfied customers are post-service if the company does what it says it will, BBB accreditation, and service guarantees.
Prices (10): How reasonable are the costs of the plan or service in comparison to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors that offer the same solar energy services.
Unique perks (10): Does the company offer discounts or special services such as financial incentives, rebates, or a useful mobile app? We looked for extras each company offers that set them apart from the competition.
Customer Service (10): How is the customer experience when contacting the company? We considered the speed of response, weekend/holiday availability, and ease of communication through phone calls, email, and online chat functions.
Nationwide availability (10): How many states does the company offer its services? Companies that operate nationally and in all zip codes are favored over those with limited availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is solar power worth it in the Pacific Northwest?
This is a common question, especially because Oregon is known for inclement weather and a lack of sunlight. While the area gets far fewer sunny days per year than most other parts of the country, there is still plenty to make solar panels a worthwhile investment.
Most homeowners in OR enjoy energy savings that pay off their systems in around 14 years, which means the remaining 6+ years of system performance should provide additional savings on electric bills above and beyond what the system costs.
Can I get free solar in Oregon?
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as free solar panels, although some companies advertise solar leases and solar PPAs as “free.” These are options that might not require any money paid out of pocket, but you also might never save any money on energy.
How much does solar cost in Oregon?
Most homes in OR need a 9.5-kW system to eliminate energy bills. With an average cost of around $2.60 per watt, you can expect to pay about $18,000 for your solar panel system after the federal tax credit is considered.
Who is the most experienced solar company in Oregon?
SunPower has the most experience with solar installations in Oregon. This company has been around since 1985, which means it was one of the early promoters of solar energy and has countless installations and success stories behind it.
Is Oregon a good state for solar power?
Oregon is a decent state for going solar. Solar equipment is a bit less expensive than the national average, which is an upside, but the state receives well below the national average number of sunny days per year, which is a definite downside.
Still, most homeowners get enough sun to save significant money on their energy bills and enjoy numerous solar incentives, including statewide tax credit and net metering. The average Oregon solar customer will save around $15,000 on their energy bills over the life of the system after the panels pay for themselves.
Does Oregon have a solar tax credit?
Yes! In addition to the 26% federal tax credit, Oregon homeowners can take advantage of the Oregon Solar + Storage Program. Offered by the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE), this program could provide you with a credit in the amount of 40% of your system total, up to $5,000. This is one of the best statewide tax credits in the country.
Does the brand of the solar panel matter when choosing a solar company in Oregon?
Yes, absolutely. Every brand varies in durability, quality, and efficiency. Thankfully, Oregon doesn’t experience much extreme weather, so durability isn’t as important as it is in other states. However, the area experiences minimal sunlight, which means high-efficiency panels might be necessary in order to maximize your energy savings and make your investment into clean energy worth it.
What is the highest-rated solar panel in Oregon?
SunPower’s Maxeon panels are the highest-rated solar panels in Oregon. These panels are widely regarded as the most efficient in the industry, which is great for homeowners in Oregon, where sunlight is relatively scarce.
