Electricity needs when the grids down.

[bigpaul]

heating/cooking when the mains are down are best with wood or coal if you have access to that, gas mains are likely to be down too, even if someone has gas central heating the controls are normally electrical so with the grid down will not work.
I was told that most solar systems in the UK dont store excess power, modern homes dont have room for storage and any excess is sold to the national grid which isnt much good when the grid is down.
generators? only as good as long as fuel stocks last which post SHTF wont be long, after that there only use is as a garden ornament.