Don’t use electricity during the solar eclipse, Octopus Energy warnsHopefully, when the eclipse arrives you’ll be out and watching it anyway. But if you aren’t, please don’t use your washing machine, says Britain’s biggest energy supplier.The eclipse will lower solar-powered electricity generation just as people get off work and go home, when electricity demand often surges.You can find the full explanation – and instructions on what to do – here:Andrew Griffin12 August 2026 09:51What time is the solar eclipse? How and when to see today’s spectacular displayWorking out exactly when the solar eclipse will arrive is slightly complicated: because it moves across the Earth at different times, and because of time zones.Thankfully, my colleagues have pulled together a series of helpful maps that make working it out easy. You can find them here:Andrew Griffin12 August 2026 09:49Hello and welcome...... to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s solar eclipse.Andrew Griffin12 August 2026 09:33