If that is acceptable to you, why not do that and save a lot with your current set up?
I do. That's why my gas is so low. I also save on electricity by leaving the lights off at night. Doesn't bother me at all walking around in the home on existing light. I use my iphone for a flashlight. Bought myself a new energy efficient television, and I lopped off over $100 dollars off my bill. My wife used to use an hold hair drier in the mornings for an extended period of time. Those two items really sucked the juice..
xposure.This also depends on the price of utilities in the area in question. I'm paying about $20.00 per month for gas right now. In the winter it can move up to over $100 per month.
I have a hard time imagining anything you could build and not take a decade or two before you broke even. That is relatively very little money.
I recognize that it is. I'm renting now, and wouldn't change things here. If I were to set up a retirement home, I might do something then. It would have to make sense though.
It sounds like you've been trying to do exactly what I would like to do.
For now, we have a camping trailer and plan on a weekend cabin. Nothing for the occasional use makes economic sense besides a generator and a small battery system, probably supplemented with small solar. Battery for minimal lighting needs and a generator for AC or any other real power. But the future retirement home, boat house, etc isn't going to run of a generator if I'm buying fuel.I agree. I wouldn't be tied down to a generator and fuel.
Thanks for the comments.
It is mostly cost, especially cost to be as reliable as the power company, even in a rural area full of trees.
But I recognize when I reach retirement, I'm not likely to want to be doing generator maintenance to maintain a system sized for peak summer but running 24/7 at a fraction of that year round.
Even if we get a gas well, I have my doubts.