If you connect your panels to the grid, you won't be responsible for producing all your own energy. That's not the case if you go off the grid.

Kicking your utility to the curb sounds like a great deal, but it's more difficult than it sounds. Here's what it takes to go off the grid with solar panels.

To perform an energy usage audit, you’ll need a spreadsheet listing everything that uses electricity in your off-grid cabin, home, or structure—down to the number of lightbulbs and their wattage.

But developers from New England to California say problems connecting to the grid is an often-overlooked issue that is strangling new rooftop and community solar projects.

Off-grid solar systems use solar batteries to operate fully independent of the power grid, but typically cost more than grid-tied systems.