I use generator and an inverter as back up. I have rechargeable lights and still use candles though cause they're cheap, the ones I use lasts about 6 hours each.
We have also almost given up on relying on the freezer to preserve our long term preps. Without a reliable source of electricity, it is not realistic to expect freezing as a long term solution to food storage. We are dehydrating, canning, and vacuum sealing.