watchdoc said:
I've always been a fan of the Selfish Solar initiative but in my case, the utility company wants $15k just to run lines about 200 yards and install a transformer and pole. Well, I'd rather just go off grid to begin with and have a propane generator backup rather than grid backup. A good V2H product like the Dcbel R16 running in "off grid mode" would be great! If they ever actually make it available.
Basically my wind and solar power is a separate power source and I use an automated double pole switch to choose between using the utility service or my own. The powered on default is my own power (solar/wind) and if they shutdown (dead, error, maintenance), it automatically switches back to the utility grid service. For the very same reason, I didn't want to tie in and sell power back to the utility because in my state, the charge back rates are worthless. After 12 years of service, the battery/inverter/solar/wind combo already paid for itself long ago in power savings and today it's just free power when there is enough sun or wind. Keeps the power bills very low and I always have basically backup power in the event of grid failure (just don't run as much stuff, bare minimum during an outage).
I could easily see a future where more and more homes run their own power and just don't bother with the grid.