Is going off the grid selfish? For many, it's the only option that makes sense | Giles Parkinson

In an ideal world everyone would be on the power network, but Australians have been saddled with what is undoubtedly the most expensive grid in the world

Last year, some friends moved into the new three-bedroom home they had built on semi-rural block of land in northern NSW. Despite being within three kilometres of a large town, and with the power network running along the local road, they chose not to connect to the grid.

The local government-owned network operator wanted $30,000 to run a wire about 50m to the house. My friends decided they were better off spending that money on solar panels and a battery array.