{
  "id": 638015,
  "title": "Professors say today's solar eclipse won’t crash the grid — so why is Octopus Energy paying customers to switch off?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/professors-say-todays-solar-eclipse-wont-crash-the-grid-so-why-is",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-12T06:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/home/energy-saving/professors-say-todays-solar-eclipse-wont-crash-the-grid-so-why-is-octopus-energy-paying-customers-to-switch-off"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Today's solar eclipse is not expected to cause a power grid crisis in the UK, according to professors and energy experts. Octopus Energy, however, is offering customers a reward for reducing electricity usage during the eclipse. The energy shortfall could be around 0.7GW to 1.3GW, depending on the extent of the eclipse's impact. While this reduction is significant, it is anticipated that gas-powered generators will primarily compensate for the loss, leading to increased carbon emissions.",
  "summary": "Octopus Energy has issued a solar eclipse power warning, but there's no need to panic.",
  "key_points": [
    "Today's solar eclipse unlikely to cause UK grid crisis",
    "Octopus Energy offers rewards for reducing electricity use",
    "Potential 0.7GW to 1.3GW shortfall expected"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Octopus Energy's offer to pay customers to switch off during the solar eclipse suggests the company expects a bigger strain on the grid than professors and experts anticipate.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}