The energy suppliers in my area all have contracts I do not agree with. My gas & electric service may be cut in a couple weeks.

What’s my best move? I need enough electricity to power a mid-sized refrigerator (but could downgrade to a minifridge if needed), a few lights, router, laptop.

My boiler is gas but I have an old previously used mazut tank and furnice which I could possibly get working again with some effort.

Not sure what to do for cooking. Maybe use a portable electric cooktop.

(updates)

I’m favoring diesel over gasoline, for these reasons:

  • My large mazut tank could store a year supply diesel but I doubt I could safely store gasoline in that quantity. It’s questionable though because it has mold or something growing in it so I’m not sure if it needs to be cleaned (or whether cleaning it is even possible). Or maybe the mold is harmless.

  • Mazut and diesel may be compatible (not sure). That is, maybe a diesel generator can burn mazut or perhaps the mazut furnice can burn diesel. Guess I should find out how different they are.

  • Clean biodiesel can be made in a basement from waste cooking oil and lye. I can probably get the waste oil at no cost.

W.r.t renewables, it’s in a densely packed city with a tiny terrace so wind turbines are probably impossible. Solar panels may be viable, I need to look into that. But I would be really surprised if solar could warm the house in the winter – it’s not a passive house (in fact not even insulated). I think solar would be a nice clean & quiet supplement.

Camping propane or butane stove may be the way to go for cooking.

  • mbelcher
    6•11 months ago

    You need to pull your usage records from the electric company to have a baseline of what you will need in terms of Kw over the course of a month. It should be on your bill.

    Then figure out what you can cut, and what size generator/solar panels/battery backup you’ll need to get by. Make sure to figure out what you are going to do in the cold months and the hot months.

    THEN figure out if you are even allowed to be “off grid” in your area. You may be required to keep the electric line running to the house, but you can shut this off at your breaker box so you won’t use any electricity. You will still get a monthly bill from the electric company for the hookup (it’s usually very small, $5-$15).

    best of luck!