We have just had a 35 minute power cut - allegedly (per their helpline) 'affecting the Accrington area'.
The telephone automated response said 'due to damage to our equipment'.
That could be cable theft or could be due to the two Xclass solar flares we have had in recent days,
SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
"POSSIBLE CME IMPACT ON MAY 17: A coronal mass ejection (CME) hurled into space by the X1-flare of May 15th might deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on May 17th. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of polar geomagnetic storms when the cloud arrives. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: text, voice.
X-FLARE THREAT CONTINUES: Sunspot AR1748 has already unleashed four X-class solar flares, but it might not be finished. The active region continues to grow beneath a delta-class magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful eruptions. NOAA puts the odds of another X-flare today at 60%. "
The two flares were recorded as shown on the thumbnail below.
I must admit it caught me unawares. I now have the emergency electricity number recorded where I can easily see it (whereas the phone book needs a magnifier to see it
).
So know where your candles and torches are and ensure they can be reached in the dark.
http://www.zdnet.com/solar-storms-to...13-7000009197/