A reader asks a question about off-grid living:
“I read with abiding interest your article, “Getting off the Grid.” It
was a very nice piece. Presently, I am living in Madison, WI with my kids but I would like to lead my retired life in or near Abbottabad, Pakistan. In fact there is a nice village about 8 kilometers from there which at the end of the mountain (where it is located) it has water, electricity, and
gas. So can I rely on the city for providing me with these utilities on a continued basis or should I dig my own well and use UPS for power supplemental power supply, or maybe a gas generator or both? By the way, how much does a wind turbine cost?”
Khalid.
My Comment:
I’ll post any answers I come across, but meanwhile, feel free to chip in with any advice for reader Khalid..
No. You can’t rely on the Abbotabad metro or any nearby utility company to reliably provide you with electricity, water or gas. 62 years of massively corrupt state machinery and machinations have left this country in a state of undeclared civil war. Corruption has led to political risk which has lead to economic risk. Your purchasing power will be eroded monthly and your property rights will not be respected. Civic amenities are or have been compromised; you’d better plan on living without any (unless you can create your own). Arm yourself. Harden your living compound. Make mutual defence agreements with neighbors (after due diligence). Act conservative in religious and social matters. Consider investing in a small turbine powered by a running stream fed by snow-melt. Local villages have invested in these with varying degrees of success. The turbine will generate electricity that can be stored in a battery bank which can then provide AC power through an inverter. If you’re off the natural gas grid (which is currently unable to cope with seasonal demands) get used to buying firewood on the black market (the officially patronized timber mafia should not be crossed lightly) or plan on using LPG. By all means, dig a well. But, be prepared for shifts in transmission channel due to seismic activity. Still shaking my head over your desire to live here. How long has it been since you left Pakistan? How often have you visited since leaving? You had better think long and hard before moving back. Maybe an exploratory visit is in order. Remember, you can control yourself but you can’t control what other people do. Sorry to sound so negative but the facts are what they are.