Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac expressed his frustration on Tuesday regarding the persistent power outages in Cuba, particularly criticizing those responsible for the situation. He reported that his area in Havana had been suffering from almost continuous blackouts since Saturday, with only brief and inadequate restorations of electricity.
"Yes, I'm extremely upset," Toirac stated in a Facebook post on Tuesday, admitting that he was trying to maintain a balanced tone despite his rising anger.
Toirac explained that his specific circuit, identified as 1243, lost electricity shortly after noon on Saturday. During the early hours of the following day, power returned three times, but none of these intervals lasted more than 20 minutes.
For Toirac, these short periods of restored electricity only added to the frustration rather than alleviating it. He noted that the frequent interruptions prevented him from sleeping and did not genuinely address the problem of the power outage.
Brief Power Restorations Add to Frustration
The scenario repeated itself on Tuesday. "Today, they turned on the power a few minutes ago, and it didn't even last ten," he noted, describing another brief restoration that, according to him, lasted less than ten minutes.
It was at this moment that Toirac directed some of his harshest criticism yet toward those managing the electrical service.
Following a series of expletives aimed at those in charge, including the president, he summed up his assessment with a strong statement: "It's not just incompetence and bad faith. It's criminal," he emphasized.
Accusations of Unequal Power Distribution
Toirac also criticized what he perceives as an unequal distribution of the power outages. He claimed that during the same period, other circuits experienced more regular service and some even faced significantly fewer interruptions.
Based on these observations, the comedian suggested that the situation strengthened his suspicions of potential irregularities in how electricity is distributed, asserting that it "confirms the prevailing corruption."
"Is that clear enough?" he concluded.
This latest outburst joins a series of ongoing criticisms from Toirac regarding the management of Cuba's energy crisis. In July, he stated that the "disaster" in Cuba's electrical system was foreseeable after decades of misguided economic and financial decisions, while also acknowledging the impact of U.S. measures on the island's energy sector.
Months earlier, he had been even more explicit about the internal causes of the decline. In March, he attributed the system's collapse to "30 years of mismatches due to flawed investment policies (and not because of the embargo)," pointing to aging power plants, fuel shortages, and accumulated infrastructure deficiencies.
Current State of Cuba's Power Grid
Toirac's protest comes amid another critical day for the National Electric System. The Electric Union forecasted a deficit of up to 2,310 MW during peak hours on Tuesday, with only 1,020 MW available against a projected demand of 3,300 MW.
The previous day was marked by a 24-hour generation shortfall, and blackouts persisted throughout the night. The peak deficit on Monday reached 2,323 MW, one of the most severe situations in the ongoing energy crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outage Crisis
What caused the recent power outages in Cuba?
The recent power outages in Cuba are attributed to a severe deficit in electricity generation. Aging infrastructure, fuel shortages, and flawed investment policies have compounded the crisis, leading to frequent blackouts.
How has Ulises Toirac responded to the outages?
Ulises Toirac has been vocal in his criticism of the power outages, expressing frustration over the management and distribution of electricity. He has accused the authorities of incompetence, bad faith, and corruption.
What are the impacts of the power outages on Cuban residents?
The power outages have caused significant disruptions to daily life in Cuba. Residents face difficulty in performing basic tasks, experience sleep disturbances, and suffer from heightened stress due to the unpredictability of electricity service.