Xcel "Smart Meter"?

[Grant H.]

I don't do household solar for a living, but I do build/maintain solar installs for remote communication sites. Tower sites ranging from 15kw of solar down to individual 100w installs.

I have an offgrid solar setup at my house that powers my "critical" loads. Furnace, Fridge/freezers, some lights, some outlets, my server rack in the garage, all network hardware, etc. I only have 3.6KW of panels currently, but have space to add another 3+KW to the roof.

For some ballpark pricing:
Panels - $.25/w is relatively easy to find - Makes 10kw of panels $2500 (10kw is a pretty common pallet, free shipping usually on a complete pallet). The average household can probably be run entirely on 6-7kw, just depends on your electric bill.
Batteries - LiFePo4 is the way to go - Commercially made/sold: $3800/13kwh - DIY Battery Boxes and Grade A cells (easier to build than an AR): $2200/13kwh (maybe less) - 13kwh is 48VDC at 280ah capacity (pretty common in LiFePo4).
Wiring/Control/Inverters: The sky is the limit. Brand, capacity, etc will drive cost. Can be done for as little as $3500 for split phase 240VAC, but expect this to be more on the lines of $5000+.

If an average home in America wanted to be capable of turning off their main breaker and run their house as is?
8-10kw of panels
3x 48VDC 280AH batteries
Appropriate charge controllers, wiring, inverters
Total: $12,000 to $16,000 in parts

SHTF Maintain Important things with some creature comforts?
4-5KW of panels
1-2x 48VDC 280AH batteries
Charge controllers/inverters/etc
Total: $6,000-$8,000 in parts

Real thread discussion:

Another reason to opt out while it's financially viable, the smart meter can remotely turn off your power at the whim of your Electric Utility.