Texans offered solar panels for less than a cell phone plan

February 26, 2010

SolarCity and TXU Energy are offering solar power plans for $35 a month

Homeowners in North Texas are being offered their own solar panels for less than the cost of a monthly cell phone plan.

Local electricity retailer TXU Energy has teamed up with solar panel installers SolarCity to provide a leasing program offering power for a 3-4 bedroom house for just $35 a month.

The low monthly fee would include installation of a 4-kilowatt system with no upfront cost, the companies said. Not including rebates or tax incentives, such a system would cost $26,000 to buy outright.

The solar lease will include installation, monitoring, repairs and insurance.

“Texans want affordable renewable energy choices, and we’re providing them the choices they want at a cost they can afford,” said Jim Burke, CEO of TXU Energy, which serves 2 million customers in North Texas.

Lyndon Rive, CEO of California-based Solar City, said his company expected the TXU offer to “significantly” increase the adoption of solar power in Texas.

“Our solar lease provides North Texas homeowners the ability to adopt clean power for less than they previously paid for electricity, and save money from day one,” said Mr Rive.

Solar Lease

SolarCity already offers a Solar Lease program in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Texas, but ordinarily it says a 4kW solar system would be available for around $110 a month, plus a $60 bill for the power itself.

This would still represent savings for an average family paying $200 a month for electricity, with no upfront cost.

The TXU Energy plan would dramatically cut this cost according to those behind it.

“Today marks a new chapter in bringing renewable energy to Texas on a mass scale,” said Jim Marston, founding director for the Texas office of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). “Thanks to leading companies like TXU Energy and SolarCity, advancing sustainable energy practices is taking a big step forward today.”

For more information, North Texas residents can call 877-TXU-SOLAR or go online at www.txu.com/solar.