Having

@anxioussimmer   Playing OTG is a bit on the tough side until you figure it out.  To get it to work so you end up on the plus side for bills, you have to balance consumption with power generation so that you are using less than you generate.  Take a look at the power consumption of various electrical items and what each solar panel, windmill and generate will generate.  Imo, it's a bit unbalanced but it is the way it is.  For instance, one lamp or ceiling light will consume all the power generated by one solar panel.  If you only have one or two solar panels, then you can only have one or two ceiling lights.

But there are alternatives.  Look at the items that work OTG and use those rather than items that don't.  My OTG lots use one of the ceiling candelabras for overhead lighting or a candle for end and bedside tables.  I use the washtubs and clotheslines instead of washers and dryers.  Composting toilets in lieu of regular toilets as well.  There are a bunch of other things you can use that don't use power as well so take a look what the tooltip in the catalog says and pick those items that give you a break on utilities.  Do the energy and water conservation upgrades on everything you can too. 

And there are a couple of lot traits you can use to help things for both water and power.  Natural Wells and Geothermal.  Plus, take a close look at what the NAPs say.  There is one that moves your lot towards energy independence that helps a lot to get there faster. 

It will all come together so you can play OTG lots successfully. 

Hope this helps.