We've been off the grid for about the same amount of time. We know so many people that would like to go solar but the cost prohibits the purchase.

There is a business in the small college town that we lived in for 19 years that has a growing solar rental business. Essentially you pay them instead of the electric company. I am thinking that they are catering more to businesses than individual homes. (I am sure there are some professors that would love to have solar panels just for something to talk about at dinner party).

I am still learning about our solar array system. The wintertime is when I monitor the most, although the only big drain on electricity would be the dryer and then the oven. Our water heater is solar heated, so at night or if we have had 4 days of essentially little sunlight....then I might be concerned.

As you know, there is ALWAYS something to fix or work on around the homestead. No idle hands here in northeast Kansas.

Thank you @mericanhomestead for the informative video and posts!