[laminatedsmore]

afaik the aim is to provide enough warning to protect transformers, I guess by powering them down in some way?

Not sure it answers your question but in case interesting here's a link to a UK document describing 'space weather preparedness strategy'

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/...

[pdonis]

Not just transistors--we could basically shut down the entire power grid for the time it takes the event to pass and disconnect enough connections to protect key components like the transformers. It would be a few hours of no power in order to avoid damage that could cause outages of weeks or months or years.

[bserge]

What about power plants? IIRC a sudden loss of electricity demand can lead to massive damage (specifically to the turbines and generators).