A high-voltage line failure plunged the majority of Santa Clara's circuits into darkness on Thursday, amidst a severe energy crisis that has subjected numerous households in the province to prolonged blackouts.
The disruption was caused by a "tripping" on a 110-kilovolt (kV) line, as confirmed by the Villa Clara Electric Company and reported by the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
Carlos Benavides Navarro, the director of the Villa Clara Electric Company, clarified that the outage affects Santa Clara alone and has not spread to other parts of the province. He mentioned that restoring power will be a gradual process, contingent on the technical conditions of the system.
Officials have not specified a timeline for when full power will be restored.
Widespread Power Issues in Villa Clara
In addition to the outage in Santa Clara, the entire Villa Clara region is grappling with a significant power generation deficit.
As of an update disseminated at 6:04 p.m. on Thursday, the provincial Electric Company reported a 215-megawatt (MW) shortfall in capacity, affecting 148 circuits. The entity also noted 417 service and secondary breakdowns, 202 of which occurred in Santa Clara, along with two issues in the process of being resolved and 75 awaiting technical attention.
These figures highlight the overall electrical crisis in Villa Clara and are not solely due to the 110 kV line failure in Santa Clara.
Increasing Hardships for Residents
This incident exacerbates an already dire situation for the province's residents. Earlier this week, a state-owned company acknowledged that families in Remedios had been without electricity for over 45 days, leading to food spoilage and considerable challenges in meeting basic needs.
Back in July 2026, Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy admitted that certain Cuban communities experienced up to 105 consecutive days without power due to failures in replacing specialized transformers.
The crisis has worsened further with the shutdown of Unit 4 of the CTE Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in Cienfuegos.
As generation and distribution issues persist, Santa Clara's residents face yet another blackout, underscoring the fragility of Cuba's electrical infrastructure and the daily uncertainty of when the lights will return.
Understanding the Energy Crisis in Villa Clara
What caused the power outage in Santa Clara?
The power outage was caused by a tripping on a 110-kilovolt (kV) high-voltage line.
How is the power restoration being handled in Santa Clara?
The restoration of power in Santa Clara is being approached gradually, based on the technical conditions of the electrical system.
How widespread are the power issues in Villa Clara?
Villa Clara is experiencing a power generation deficit affecting 215 megawatts (MW) and impacting 148 circuits, along with numerous service breakdowns.
What other factors are contributing to the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis has been compounded by the shutdown of Unit 4 of the CTE Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in Cienfuegos and challenges in replacing specialized transformers.