What does OFF-GRID Mean?
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WHAT DOES OFF-GRID LIVING MEAN TO US?
Many people have commented on our YouTube channel that we have 'lost touch' with what it means to live off-grid. They are under the impression that this means we would have to give up our batteries, our generator, and our other 'creature comforts' to be considered as living off-the-grid.
WE DISAGREE
For us, living off grid means NOT being connected to the power grid
(water and gas is not available where we live).
It DOESN'T mean living a PRIMITIVE LIFESTYLE.
We chose to go off-grid because we wanted independence from the power company, but we still wanted to enjoy all the wonderful things that power provides!
OUR BACK STORY
We lived on Long Island and our power bills were ridiculously high. We could never rectify the monthly bill with what we used because the taxes were always changing, new taxes, surcharges, and fees were added all the time, the billing costs differed for different times of the day. It was such a complicated bill that the only thing we could do to really lower it was to lower the wattage our home used.
WE DISAGREE
For us, living off grid means NOT being connected to the power grid
(water and gas is not available where we live).
It DOESN'T mean living a PRIMITIVE LIFESTYLE.
We chose to go off-grid because we wanted independence from the power company, but we still wanted to enjoy all the wonderful things that power provides!
OUR BACK STORY
We lived on Long Island and our power bills were ridiculously high. We could never rectify the monthly bill with what we used because the taxes were always changing, new taxes, surcharges, and fees were added all the time, the billing costs differed for different times of the day. It was such a complicated bill that the only thing we could do to really lower it was to lower the wattage our home used.
(Newsday article from June 26,2020)
Over the course of the next 12 years we did all we could to decrease that usage. We purchased a watt meter and took time to measure the usage of all our major appliances. We purchased LED bulbs for all of our lights (read more here). We purchased new appliances including an energy efficient refrigerator (check it out here), stove, and dishwasher. We replaced all our room air conditioners with energy efficient ones. We changed how we ran our pool heater and filter (learn more here).
And we did a great job!
Between 2007 and 2019 we were able to cut our usage in half! (learn more here).
(Yes, I saved and recorded every electric bill for 12 years....LOL - that goes to show how much I despised them!)
Learn more about PSEG Long Island Rates here https://www.psegliny.com/aboutpseglongisland/ratesandtariffs/rateinformation
Learn more about PSEG Long Island Rates here https://www.psegliny.com/aboutpseglongisland/ratesandtariffs/rateinformation
However, even with all that we did to decrease our usage in the hopes of lowering our bill, the bottom line was it didn't matter all that much.
Over the course of that 12 years we decreased our usage by 9,747 kW or 52.2%, however, our total bill only decreased by $1,785.70 or 47.9%.
Yes, we saved money, but we still could not control the increases in taxes, fuel surcharges, and kW costs.
It was at that point that we decided to look into the possibility of living off-the-grid when we moved to the Adirondacks so that we could be in control of our power.
THE ADIRONDACK CHOICES
Over the next few years we looked into what it would cost for a complete solar system vs. what it would cost to bring in buried electric lines (We knew we did not want to clear a path for poles and power lines from the road to our house so this was not even an option for us.).
ON-GRID
We completed the application to National Grid and someone came and met with us to do measurements and estimates.
A couple of things we learned about National Grid:
You DO NOT have to have an electrician fill out the forms!
You will get a CREDIT for either the first 100' of line with a pole, or the equivalent amount deducted from the cost to bury the wire.
Since we were building about 700' in from the road, we would need two pads if we were going underground. We would also need to clear a path of trees 20' wide and sign over a waiver to allow them unlimited access to the buried line in case of emergency. In addition we would be responsible for digging the trench, putting sand in, and then backfilling. This would cost us about $30,000.
Our other on-grid choice was to have National Grid put a pedestal near the road, and then we would hire a private company to bury a line, buy pads, and hire an electrician to run the power 700' to our house. Again, extremely expensive.
OFF-GRID
And so began our quest to understand off-grid power and see if we could afford a system that would provide for our needs, which included all the basic luxuries such as refrigeration, lighting, television, and more!
Of course you know we did choose to go off-grid because not only was it more economical in the long run, but it allows us to be free from the control of the power company and their bills :-)
We will be sharing more about our off-grid power system, costs, economics,
and, experience soon (and how we heat our home, get hot water, cook, and more!).
Over the course of that 12 years we decreased our usage by 9,747 kW or 52.2%, however, our total bill only decreased by $1,785.70 or 47.9%.
Yes, we saved money, but we still could not control the increases in taxes, fuel surcharges, and kW costs.
It was at that point that we decided to look into the possibility of living off-the-grid when we moved to the Adirondacks so that we could be in control of our power.
THE ADIRONDACK CHOICES
Over the next few years we looked into what it would cost for a complete solar system vs. what it would cost to bring in buried electric lines (We knew we did not want to clear a path for poles and power lines from the road to our house so this was not even an option for us.).
ON-GRID
We completed the application to National Grid and someone came and met with us to do measurements and estimates.
A couple of things we learned about National Grid:
You DO NOT have to have an electrician fill out the forms!
You will get a CREDIT for either the first 100' of line with a pole, or the equivalent amount deducted from the cost to bury the wire.
Since we were building about 700' in from the road, we would need two pads if we were going underground. We would also need to clear a path of trees 20' wide and sign over a waiver to allow them unlimited access to the buried line in case of emergency. In addition we would be responsible for digging the trench, putting sand in, and then backfilling. This would cost us about $30,000.
Our other on-grid choice was to have National Grid put a pedestal near the road, and then we would hire a private company to bury a line, buy pads, and hire an electrician to run the power 700' to our house. Again, extremely expensive.
OFF-GRID
And so began our quest to understand off-grid power and see if we could afford a system that would provide for our needs, which included all the basic luxuries such as refrigeration, lighting, television, and more!
Of course you know we did choose to go off-grid because not only was it more economical in the long run, but it allows us to be free from the control of the power company and their bills :-)
We will be sharing more about our off-grid power system, costs, economics,
and, experience soon (and how we heat our home, get hot water, cook, and more!).
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