[RadioAstronomer]

You're still on the grid, just sending electricity to the electric company during the day (which they pay you for). If the power goes out, yours does too.

Ok. If that is the case, it's a bunch of BS. Thanks for the info.

The independent system is more expensive and takes lots of maintenance (or so the salesman told me five-ten years ago).

Depends on how elaborate you go. I have an AC inverter, a regulator, 4 panels, and a couple of batteries. For a simple trailer, it is enough and easy to maintain. :-)

[Amerigomag]

Ok. If that is the case, it's a bunch of BS. Thanks for the info.

It gets worse.

There's a proposal before the CPUC to tax folks with independent systems since they "degrade the economies of generation and distribution". Simply put, if your reside in an area being provided service by a grid regulated by the state, you'll receive a utility bill whether or not you use publicly provided power.