This Sunday, the Havana Electric Company announced on social media that residents in the Cuban capital will experience daily four-hour power outages, a measure set to last until at least November 3. The company stated on Facebook that the planned energy cuts, caused by a deficit in generation capacity, will commence on Monday, October 28, and continue through November 3, without detailing what will happen beyond that date.
According to the announcement, a schedule was shared showing a rotation involving four groups, with each facing power cuts on different days. This means only one group will be without electricity for four hours each day, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. However, in the event of emergencies due to unexpected generator failures, an alternative rotation will be implemented.
This backup plan would result in 12-hour outages, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, arranged in three groups so that each day one group would not experience power interruptions. Last Thursday, the Havana Electric Company had issued an advisory stating that "due to an emergency," power would be cut for four hours in blocks 1 and 2 of the capital, and shared the outage schedule for Havana from October 24 to October 27.
Additionally, the company urged the population to "use electricity rationally in order to reduce consumption in the province, avoid overloading the networks, and prevent service interruptions." Cuba's Electrical Union forecasted a generation deficit in the National Electric System of up to 870 MW during peak hours on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 7:20 pm. The reported generation availability at 7:00 am was 2,100 MW, while demand was estimated at 2,000 MW, allowing for a disruption-free morning.