A fire at the Jicotea power substation, located in Ranchuelo municipality, Villa Clara, has left the community without electricity since last Friday. This was reported by journalist Mario J. Pentón and confirmed via the Telegram channel of the Villa Clara Electric Company.
The equipment that caught fire had been in operation since 1965, enduring over sixty years of service, and it had been experiencing recurrent issues even before the blaze.
The informant stated, "This plant has been problematic for a while; it would shut down, and electricians had to come out to fix it because the demand is extremely high."
Impact on Local Electricity Supply
The Villa Clara Electric Company reported in a technical statement that circuits 54 and 94 in Jicotea were impacted due to the fire and a pole replacement.
"Yesterday, a fault occurred at the Jicotea power substation (4kv) caused by a fire, leading to an interruption of electric service for nearly the entire town," the state company announced on their Telegram channel last Friday.
The town remains without power and lacks an official timeline for when the service will be restored.
"It is important to note that even after our crews complete their work, it will not be possible to immediately restore electricity because there are multiple damages to the substation and power lines, which are being repaired progressively," clarified the company.
Historical Context and Ongoing Crisis
The latest update on the electrical situation, released this Wednesday, indicates that five days after the incident, Jicotea's circuits are still out of service.
This is not the first significant electrical emergency faced by Ranchuelo.
In October 2025, a traffic accident caused an explosion at the Gran Panel substation, leaving over 10,000 people without electricity.
This incident adds to a series of similar breakdowns across the island. In mid-August, a transformer explosion in Calabazar, Boyeros, saw no response from electric company technicians for two days.
In June, an overheated substation in Caibarién, also in Villa Clara, left 15 districts without power.
The crisis is fundamentally structural. In June 2026, the Electric Union admitted that there are no transformer spare parts available in any province, with only three repair workshops across the country.
In Havana, an average of 25 transformers are damaged daily. Meanwhile, Villa Clara experienced generation deficits ranging from 208 to 215 MW during the first half of August.
Understanding Cuba's Ongoing Power Challenges
What caused the Jicotea power outage?
The power outage in Jicotea was caused by a fire at the local power substation, which has been in service since 1965 and had been experiencing ongoing issues.
How long has Jicotea been without electricity?
As of the latest update, Jicotea has been without electricity for five days since the fire occurred.
Are there similar power issues elsewhere in Cuba?
Yes, similar power issues have been reported across Cuba, including transformer explosions and overheating substations in other regions like Calabazar and Caibarién.
What is the state of Cuba's electric infrastructure?
Cuba's electric infrastructure is in crisis, with a lack of spare parts and limited repair facilities, leading to frequent power outages and equipment failures.