grid

Mostly people think of 'the grid' as the grid-like mass of wires typical of the electric power providers and going off-grid is a process of disconnecting from the power grid in lieu of solar or wind power.  The grid is much more pervasive in our lives than just the power grid, however.  If you think about it  the grid is a kind of metaphor for big, centralized control of essential services in our lives.  Energy is one but communications is another, as is banking, insurance, and of course, government is the big one.