Just found this thread, it is interesting in so much as it highlights load scheduling, Chris I know you have a decent size system, as I do.
Here in my part of Australia a 45 Kg bottle of LPG costs $150 delivered, but I have, well most days, considerable surplus power so boiling the billy on LPG makes no sense, I use an electric jug to boil my water.
My batteries cost as much as the next persons, mine are sized in amp hours to suit my needs, I also know that they began slowly dying from the first time they were filled with electrolyte, and I know I am anal about their care. With all this "I know" I should be brilliant, why is this not so?
Despite all the above, and assuming one has been able to afford a correctly sized renewable energy system then using electricity is a no brainer, it is about when one uses it.
Living off grid is not hard, nor more expensive if one is honest about what things cost, it is just a lot more rewarding NOT getting a windowed envelope in the mail every month that demands payment of a government inflated fee for energy supplied via wires.
Now where is that step ladder so I can get off my soap box.
Allan deep in the jungle, or I should say oldest rain forest in the world.