A resident from the Berenguer neighborhood in Calabazar, Boyeros, took to Facebook to report that the transformer on their block burst into flames two days ago. Despite numerous reports to the electric company, no technician has shown up to address the issue.
The images shared in the post within the "Havana Electric Company" group reveal the pole engulfed in fire on the night of August 13.
"The transformer on my block exploded because of a shoddy repair by the electric company. They replaced a broken connector with a makeshift cable, leading to the transformer blowing up two days ago. We've reported it over a thousand times, and no one has come to see it. I'm at a loss on who to call or where to go," wrote the poster.
The explosion, according to the complaint, was caused by inadequate maintenance: company crews replaced a damaged connector with a makeshift cable, ultimately causing the equipment to catch fire.
Comments on the post highlight a recurring pattern of corruption in various Havana neighborhoods and other provinces.
"You have to pay to get it seen. In my friend's block, it blew up too — this was 15 days ago — they called the electric company, and nothing; they say it gets reviewed after 72 hours," recounted one commenter.
"They told a neighbor in Capdevila that for 78,000 pesos they would replace it. The block pooled their money, and soon enough, the company came with the transformer and swapped it. This happens everywhere: if a block loses its transformer, money solves it because everyone takes a cut there," another added.
Another user noted that a known acquaintance was asked for 90,000 pesos for the same service, while installing a simple connector can cost up to 10,000 pesos, charged under the table.
One commenter described how they avoided the charge: "It happened to me, and I didn't pay a dime. When they installed it, I told them: 'It's done, I have it signed here, I'm forwarding it to the government president; go collect from him.' They had to leave without a penny. They're shameless."
This issue isn't unique to Berenguer. Residents of Santos Suárez report more than a week of just two hours of power daily; on Avenue 57 between 78 and 80, a transformer has been out for 17 days without service, and parts of Mayabeque have been without power for 40 days due to equipment shortages.
"The OBE of Boyeros is a champion of inefficiency," remarked another commenter.
The only operational contact, according to neighbors, is number 18888: "You have to insist early. The other numbers are useless," a user advised.
"Transformer explosions have become routine, and it's all due to the constant power cuts; they can't handle it," summed up a neighbor in the comments, capturing the daily reality for millions of Cubans.
This municipality already experienced a similar incident in July, when Calabazar residents detained two electrical workers from the Electric Union for allegedly selling electricity illegally to private businesses while the neighborhood remained in darkness.
Cuba's transformer crisis is systemic. In Havana, an average of 25 transformers are damaged daily, with days seeing over 60 units broken down, and of 1,500 transformers evaluated in the capital, 755 are operating overloaded.
The Electric Union admitted in June that there are no spare parts available in any province, with only three repair workshops across the country.
Understanding Cuba's Electrical Challenges
What caused the transformer explosion in Boyeros?
The explosion was attributed to a poorly executed repair, where a broken connector was replaced with an improvised cable, leading to the transformer catching fire.
How prevalent are transformer failures in Havana?
Transformer failures are frequent, with Havana experiencing an average of 25 damaged transformers daily, and some days seeing over 60 failures.
What are residents doing to get transformers replaced?
Some residents resort to collecting money to pay for transformer replacements, as official responses are often delayed or require bribes for prompt service.