Oakland, CA — Two solar power system providers are expanding the availability of solar leases with no down payments.

Sungevity has launched its new, 10-year residential solar lease with no upfront costs. The monthly fee covers all maintenance, monitoring, cleaning and insurance. Hand-in-hand with the new lease, the company has made changes to its customer service operations.

Sungevity now provides solar system proposals for potential customers within 24 hours, any day of the week, using satellite maps instead of visiting homes in person to design the systems. It also has consultants available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

TXU Energy is bringing solar power leasing to residents in Texas through a partnership with SolarCity.

There is no upfront cost for the lease, and a monthly fee will cover the installation, monitoring, repair and insurance for the system. TXU Energy says that a 4-kilowatt residential system, which would be appropriate for a three- or four-bedroom home, would cost about $35 a month.

TXU Energy has also released its TXU Energy iThermostat for businesses. The device can be monitored, programmed and controlled over the Internet.

Owners can control all HVAC components through the system, and program its daily operations with up to four programmable periods in a given day.

The company says it can cut 10-30 percent off electric bills, and it is already being used by Genghis Grill and Papa John's locations as well as student housing facilities for the University of Texas at Dallas.

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