On Thursday, residents of Marianao, a municipality in Havana, successfully stopped an electrical company's crew from disconnecting a power circuit. The operation was brought to a halt as the crew failed to provide the necessary documentation authorizing the maneuver, according to journalist Mag Jorge Castro on X.
Gisselle Zea, a local resident who spoke on behalf of her neighbors, criticized the linemen for refusing to present the work order—a document that would have legally justified the power cut.
The attempted disconnection threatened to leave the area without electricity for at least 24 hours, sparking anger among the residents.
Community Stands Up Against Arbitrary Power Cuts
Faced with the workers' refusal, the neighbors detained the crew on site, called the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), and summoned government representatives. The confrontation was charged with shouts of "Shameless!" and "Corrupt!" directed at the linemen.
The crew's vehicle eventually left the scene after a police patrol arrived to diffuse the situation.
This incident highlights the growing distrust among the public towards electrical crews, who have been frequently accused of acting without proper documentation or in an arbitrary manner. Demanding a work order has become a form of civic oversight that is being adopted across various parts of the country.
Marianao's History of Protests Against Blackouts
Marianao has seen some of the most intense community mobilizations in response to power outages throughout 2026. In May, residents blocked streets in protest after enduring over 20 hours without electricity. In July, residents of Zamora neighborhood took to the streets after more than 24 hours without power and several days without water.
This latest incident is not isolated in the ongoing conflict between residents and electrical crews in Havana. In mid-July, residents of Calabazar in Boyeros detained two linemen from the Electrical Union, accusing them of illegally selling electricity to private businesses in exchange for money and beer.
In El Fanguito on July 30, a lineman restored power shortly after residents blocked an avenue in protest of the outages.
Escalating Tensions and the Role of Security Forces
On August 1, tensions escalated in San Miguel del Padrón when an electrical company truck arrived with an escort from the "black berets," the National Special Brigade of the MININT, which residents saw as a preemptive intimidation tactic.
The energy crisis fueling these confrontations is deeply rooted in structural issues. Reports from July 2026 indicated that approximately 25 transformers per day were being damaged in Havana, and the Electrical Union admitted in June that there were no spare parts available in any province of the country.
The PNR has been called upon by both residents and electrical crews in various incidents, illustrating how the electrical conflict in Cuba has evolved into a public order issue that the regime struggles to control.
Understanding Cuba's Electrical Conflict
Why are Marianao residents protesting against the electrical company?
Residents are protesting due to frequent power outages and the arbitrary actions of electrical crews, who often fail to provide proper documentation for power cuts.
What actions have Marianao residents taken in response to power outages?
Residents have blocked streets, detained electrical crews, and called law enforcement to demand accountability and proper documentation during power outages.