The term off-the-grid (OTG) can refer to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. Off-the-grid homes are autonomous; they do not rely on municipal water supply, sewer, natural gas, electrical power grid, or similar utility services. -Wikipedia.org.
On average, one of the most (if not the most) expensive utility is the electrical.  Electricity can power most of our home's appliances, and air and heat in modern dwellings; often costing hundreds of dollars per month and several thousand per year.  It is not unusual for a home to pay close to $3000 dollars per year on home electric, and on average the Atlanta GA area pays about $1400 per year.  The average Joe in Atlanta can get a nice vacation to Hawaii every 4 years if they did not have an energy bill; and I'm talking Joe from Wal-mart.
So, although living off the (electric) grid in a city has many challenges, it is very possible and can be seriously rewarding.  In my goal to be off the electric grid before 2017 I have created this blog to show my progress, the plan, the details, the challenges, and the milestones.  Follow and post to this blog if you are interested or are doing something similar.  Good blogging