It's all about changing your lifestyle but IMHO it is well worth it. We do without nothing that those on the grid have, yet we're completely independent of the grid unless we choose to burn some credits for whatever reason. Being on a CoOp, our yearly checks from the power company have been impressive
So it sounds like you don't get a bill from the power company at all? Why shouldn't you? You are still hooked up to the transmission lines, correct? Why shouldn't you have to help pay for maintenance cost on those lines? If you want to be totally independent, then you should not be hooked up to the transmission lines at all.
