Living without an energy provider

A growing numbers of U.S. homes off the grid

An estimated 180,000 homes in the U.S. provide their own electricity without connection to the distribution grid. Most of them rely on solar power, although a small percentage makes use of their own wind turbine.

This number is still very small when compared to the total number of homes in the U.S. and not yet of major significance for the power industry. However, it does show that going off-grid is technically feasible, and the number of homes making this choice is increasing by about one third each year.

Going off-grid and still enjoying computers and televisions is an expensive option at present, but technological evolutions in photovoltaic systems and electricity storage devices may significantly reduce the cost of off-grid systems and accelerate this trend. This could very well occur within the next five years.