RE. RE. Re. AC on Unclear power
The latest analysis of a possible Carrington level event is that it could cause a major problem to solar installations by inducing ground currents in nearby power lines.
If the energy builds up too much then when they arc over the resulting mini EMPs could propagate down the lines like a lightning bolt and fry anything connected to them.
There will be attenuation due to the low side transformers BUT if the inverter connected to the solar panels gets fried then you might well have power on the solar side but nothing else.
Guess what, household items like fridge freezers DO NOT work on DC power.
Also relevant, solar cells do not like EMPs, mini or otherwise.
Lightning is a single short pulse and the onboard protection can survive that but not multiple events over several hours slowly degrading the protection until it fails.
I did the calculations for this and based on the analysis from 1859 most of North America will be in the dark.
Even some unconnected sensitive equipment like radio and TV receivers could be damaged as their front ends would suddenly see repetitive kV/m spikes that would overwhelm the lightning protection.
Just for "extra fun stuff" the resulting massive downpours and storms caused by the solar radiation interacting with the atmosphere could result in serious problems.
AC/DC 6EQUJ5