Except that a large number of these solar electric plans are grid-tied systems that attempt to use the power company as its battery. I recently was offered a system where they would simply collect my electric bill payment instead of the power company, and in exchange they would install a grid-tied solar system that would provide my power. Such systems are scams in my opinion, as the economics don't work long term for the power companies which remain in the equation. These scamsters can't afford to make the same deal for off-grid systems because the batteries eat up their profits. Not only are the power companies mad at these deals, they have a right to be and in fact, I'm mad about them as well because they're attempting to profit off a disruptive technology at both the power company's and my expense-- my expense because I would remain dependent on the power company, just differently while the scamsters skim off the profits-- when the power company can't make it work anymore, I'll be one of the ones adversely affected.