On why, I tend to use steam now to power off site stations, rather than solar/accumulator or long power lines. I setup a rail line separate from the ones bringing in my ores and stuff with a couple of trains with a fluid wagon. Fill the fluid wagon up with steam, run it out to the base, unload the steam into tanks which feed steam generators. Means I don't have to pump the resources into loads of solar panels and accumulators for offsite bases (and if something breaks through, its a lot cheaper to replace), or worry about carting out stuff like coal/solid fuel to sites to power boilers there. Main base is still powered traditionally, but this is my preferred solution for mining outposts.