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Update: Well, that didn’t take long. I have word from both Pacific Power and Portland General Electric that all available reservations for folks looking to participate in the pilot project have been filled.

Pacific Power reportedly sold out in the first 15 minutes after opening up its online reservation site, taking on 75 solar projects. Pacific Power will have another call for reservations in October and every six months after that until the 15 year pilot program is completed.

PGE also sold out in the first 15 minutes. It received 97 applications.

Portland General Electric and Pacific Power began taking applications today for a pilot project that will lower utility bills for customers for the energy they generate with solar photovoltaic panels.

Known as a feed-in tariff in Europe, Oregon’s version is slightly different. While in Europe customers are allowed to sell any extra energy their systems generate to the utility, in Oregon, any extra energy produced is put into an energy assistance program for low-income customers.

Still, the utility does pay 65 cents per kilowatt hour, but instead of cutting a check, that amount is deducted from the customer’s normal electricity bill.

To sign up, visit .