Cuban comedian Reuel Remedios, through his character Lindoro Incapaz, has released a video on Facebook that poignantly captures the dire electricity crisis gripping Cuba in 2026. In just one minute and eight seconds, the skit offers a comedic yet unsettlingly accurate portrayal of the ongoing situation.
Lindoro begins his monologue with a complaint that resonates deeply with Cubans: the futility of "informative groups," which are chat rooms organized by electrical circuits or Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, intended to notify residents about scheduled power cuts.
"Greetings to the leaders, greetings to the blocks. Well, you know an informative group is supposed to inform you of what's going to happen, right? So why do you tell me you cut the power to this circuit after it's already gone? I already know it's out, why did you cut it?" Lindoro asks in his trademark pompous tone, embodying an out-of-touch official explaining everything while understanding nothing.
The punchline lands quickly: "Also, when you cut the power, that message doesn't reach me. Who are you informing? If you want to help me, tell me when you're going to cut it and when it'll be back." The observation is painfully obvious, which is precisely what makes the character so effective.
The true comedic punch—responsible for over 30,000 views and 1,400 reactions—is Lindoro's almost documentary-like timeline of the electrical system's decline. "The situation is tough. First, they cut it for a while by province, then for longer periods by municipality, and later, even longer but by zone," the character recites as if reading an official report from the Electric Union.
The downward spiral continues: "When they started cutting by blocks, they gave us power for two or three hours. Now, by circuit, it's one and a half to two hours." Then comes the prediction that has sparked an explosion of comments: "They say in August, it's 20 minutes per CDR. And by September, it will be personalized: you'll go to a local spot, receive your 10-minute ration, and use it whenever needed that month, alright? We're making progress, you know."
What makes this joke both funny and chilling is that reality is not far from fiction. The National Electric System collapsed for the fifth time in July, with outages often exceeding 20 hours a day. Just two days before the video went viral, on July 23rd, the Electric Union reported a maximum disruption of 2,315 MW, leaving the entire country without service for 24 hours.
The official response has done little to soothe public frustration. On July 10th, Díaz-Canel toured Central Havana, and rather than announcing concrete measures to boost power generation, he called for "better organization of the disruption schedule." This statement was met with a mix of outrage and laughter, something Lindoro had unwittingly anticipated.
Since around 2007, the character has been a staple on Cuban television in shows like "Deja que yo te cuente" and "Vivir del cuento," portraying a corrupt, boastful, and incompetent leader who has an explanation for everything but a solution for nothing. In 2026, his sketches have tackled the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant and Cuban workers' meal plans, among other topics, garnering tens of thousands of interactions per post.
Viewers of the video largely agreed that the "10-minute ration" didn't sound so far-fetched, with some suggesting Lindoro should present the country's energy plan, as at least he would be honest. Ironically, humor remains the one service in Cuba that hasn't faced a blackout.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outage Crisis
What is causing the frequent power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are largely due to the collapse of the National Electric System, exacerbated by aging infrastructure, lack of investment, and inefficient management under the socialist regime.
How has the Cuban government responded to the electricity crisis?
The government's response has been criticized as inadequate, focusing more on organizing disruption schedules rather than implementing effective solutions to increase power generation.
What impact do these outages have on daily life in Cuba?
The frequent and prolonged power outages severely disrupt daily activities, affecting everything from food preservation and water supply to healthcare services and communication.