We in the Counties area lost power for some 10 minutes tonight. Did a car hit a power pole? That was my first thought, being that it's rather wet and nasty and cold out there. So, torch in hand, I called our local power supplier. What's happening, I ask? He tells me that he's been ordered from higher-up to shed power. He doesn't really know when it will be on again or why it's happening (but he does mention the 'G' word - government): just that they have to 'shed power' in our area (ie, to cut power to our area).
I don't know what happened either, but I'm glad I have power back on the coldest night of the year so far.