The Santiago de Cuba Power Company has unveiled a revised schedule for blackouts, indicating that residents will receive electricity in brief intervals—ranging from just one to two hours each day. Consequently, the people of Santiago will endure more than 22 hours without power every day.
Officially announced, the new arrangement divides the service into nine segments: eight are designated as interruptible circuits with scheduled outages, while the ninth encompasses circuits serving essential facilities—such as hospitals and water pumping stations— which will only face disconnections during peak hours if the National Electric System (SEN) conditions necessitate it.
The company attributes the crisis to a "fuel shortage linked to the intensified economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government, as well as the aging and breakdowns affecting several thermal generation units."
The reality reflected in the official statement is grimmer than acknowledged.
This past Monday, the Electric Union reported an availability of merely 995 MW against a demand of 3,050 MW, anticipating a shortfall of up to 2,085 MW during the nighttime peak, exacerbated by the year's 15th malfunction at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant.
On that same day, the system's peak real impact reached 1,882 MW at 9:50 PM.
Chronic Issues in Santiago's Power Supply
The unreliable electricity service in Santiago de Cuba is not a new phenomenon. On May 31, Lester Salvador Cedeño, director of the provincial Power Company, publicly admitted, "We might not even provide two hours of service," acknowledging that in many instances, only an hour and 30 minutes or an hour and 45 minutes per block is achieved.
In June, several neighborhoods in the city reported outages lasting 40 to 50 consecutive hours, prompting protests across various parts of the province.
Residents of San Ricardo took to the streets last Sunday after enduring several days without electricity, and the José Martí District experienced a protest last Friday with residents demanding power, food, and freedom.
Historical Background of the Energy Crisis
The roots of the crisis stretch back to at least 2024. In October of that year, the Power Company itself revealed that some blocks in the province were receiving just three hours of electricity with 21 hours of blackout; by November, it promised at least five hours daily, a pledge it failed to fulfill.
In April 2026, the United Nations described Cuba's energy crisis as having systemic humanitarian impacts, affecting health, water, sanitation, food, education, transportation, and telecommunications.
The Power Company has cautioned that "the adherence to this schedule will depend on the daily performance of the SEN, so adjustments to the planned hours and blocks may be necessary," implying that even the limited hours of announced power are not assured.
Understanding the Santiago de Cuba Power Crisis
What is causing the severe power outages in Santiago de Cuba?
The power outages are attributed to a fuel shortage linked to the economic blockade imposed by the United States and the aging infrastructure and breakdowns of thermal generation units.
How are residents of Santiago de Cuba affected by the new blackout schedule?
Residents are severely impacted, receiving only one to two hours of electricity per day, leading to over 22 hours without power daily, which disrupts daily life and essential services.
What measures are being taken to manage the power crisis?
The Power Company has implemented a new schedule dividing service into nine blocks, with adjustments possible based on the National Electric System's daily performance, although this does not guarantee the announced hours of electricity.