I saw the headlines earlier today -- then another that said it was believed due to intense solar activity. I remember reading a week or so ago that we were entering a period of intense solar activity, which is also responsible for the expanded viewing of northern lights. Still, didn't expect anything that extreme or widespread.

That reason sounds a little bizarre. How would that take down an electric grid? Oh I see it was a solar grid. Lots of ways to make electricity. Perhaps wind/solar etc needs a back up system humans are in controll of?

If you think humans are in control of hydro, nuclear, or whatever besides solar and wind used to make electricity, you're naive. We can control the equipment, but we can't control rainfall, nuclear accidents, any more than we can control the sun and wind

If a similar 1859 CME hits the Earth (The Carrington Event) we'll most likely lose power grids worldwide along with most orbital satellites and just about any equipment vulnerable to power surges.