Portland
 Residential PV Systems
Laws, Requirements, Tax credits

Process
Hire a contractor and/or consultant.
www.energy.state.or.us/renew/solar/PVvend.pdf
Get city permits
Enter into net metering agreement with utility
Pass inspection by city/utility
Start producing!

City Permits
Electrical Permit
Trade permits counter
NEC Article 690
National Fire Protection Agency
Groundfault Protection Device-fire protection device.  Detects faulty currents and disables the array.
Additional Cost – $275-425
IEEE 929 2000
Recommeded Practice for Utility Interface Photovoltaic Systems.
Provides a standard for inverter design.
UL 1741
Safety standards for Inverters, converters, and controllers.
Systems that meet these standards will meet IEEE standard.

City Permits
Residential Structural Permit
Roof able to maintain structural integrity given the extra load of PV array.
System able to maintain stability given the wind currents in Portand.

Net Metering Agreement
Created in response to HB 3219
An agreement between the customer-generator and the utility that details terms of interconnection.

OregonLaw
70th Oregon Legislative Assembly(1999)
House Bill 3219 www.leg.state.or.us/99reg/measures/hb3200.dir/hb3219.en.html

HB 3219
Systems of 25 kW or less
Located on customer’s property
Can operate in parallel with utility
Intended to offset part or all of customer’s electricity requirements
May charge minimum monthly charge
Customer Protection Provisions
Cannot require additional safety or performance standards.
Cannot require customer to perform or pay for additional tests.
Cannot require the purchase additional liability insurance.

PGE Net Metering Agreement
Must own the generator
Must be a solar, wind, fuel cell, hydroelectric facility
25 kW or less
Must operate in parallel with PGE’s existing transmission and distribution facilities
Must be primarily intended to offset part or all your electrical requirements
Agreement must span 1 year or more

PGE Net Metering
   Net metering measures the difference between the electricity supplied by the company and electricity generated by a customer-generator and fed back to the company over the Monthly Billing period.

Financials
Customer will pay normal monthly Customer, Demand, Facilities, and Reactive Demand charges paid in the standard service tariff.
If use exceeds production, customer pays for net usage.
If production exceeds usage, the account is credited according to Schedule 201, Small Power Production.

Schedule 201 Credit Rates
Customer Responsibilities with
PGE agreement
Safety – NEC, IEEE, UL
Deliver at utility voltage, phase,frequency, power factor
All necessary govt. approvals
Modifications required by PGE for purposes of safety and reliability
Isolation equipment accessible at all times

More Allowances
PGE may inspect facilities at any time for any reason.
PGE may disconnect for safety and/or reliability reasons at their discretion.

Current “Portland” Tax Incentives
State of Oregon $1,500 Tax credit
UL listed equipment
$3 per Watt up to $1,500
Loan
7.5% interest
Up to 15 years
$500 loan fee
Secured by collateral (second mortgage)
Individuals, businesses, schools, special districts, tribes and local, state or federal government agencies may apply.
$2,000 rebate for remote residences.

Federal Tax Incentives
for
Residential Systems
Proposed Federal Tax Incentive
Congressman J.D. Hayworth, AZ
June, 2001
Residential Solar Energy Tax Credit Act
15% Tax Credit for installation of PV System
15% Tax Credit for installation of water heater
Up to $2000 for each system

Portland Residential PV Systems
State of Affairs
System is not standardized.
Most people TRY to help.
Headaches may be unavoidable
“They DON’T deal with it.”

Contacts
Contractors/Consultants www.energy.state.or.us/renew/solar/PVvend.pdf
City of Portland
Bureau of Buildings, Permit Center
1900 SW 4th, Ste 5000, PO Box 8120
Portland, OR  97201
(503) 823-7310
Planning - www.opdr.ci.portland.or.us
Bob Turpin – Electrical Engineer
(503) 823-7390

Contacts
State of Oregon
www.energy.state.or.us
Solar Power –
Christopher Dymond   (503) 378-8235  or 1-800-221-8035
    Oregon Office of Energy
625 Marion St. N.E.
Salem, Oregon 97301
(503) 378-4040         Toll Free: 1-800-221-8035
Fax:(503)-373-7806
PGE - Bonnie Rushing -  Power Contracts