Energy Minister Chris Bowen has seized on the fuel crisis to underline the need for electrification and renewable energy.But a lot of Australians have already done it. Households are spending their own money, taking the risk, and figuring out how to cut fossil fuels out of their lives.

Some are even getting close to off-grid, in the middle of cities.So here's the real question: if people are doing the heavy lifting, is the system keeping up?