This week, a Cuban woman named Taniaglicet Hernandez Machado took to Facebook to express her outrage at the Riviera branch of the Electric Company in Villa Clara. She had received an electricity bill totaling 3,673.80 Cuban pesos for June 2026, showing a consumption of 794 kWh.
"I wonder if anyone with a bit of decency can explain how this expense is possible with so many blackout hours," she wrote. Hernandez Machado clarified that she does not run any private business that could justify such high consumption: "I don't have a small business; I don't even sell a coffee."
Her post addressed to the Villa Clara Electric Company also noted previous similar issues with the same branch: "Once they left me alone, and it seems they're starting again."
The post sparked a flood of comments from Cubans nationwide reporting similar experiences.
Recurrent Billing Issues
Customers from the same Riviera branch advised the author against paying in hopes of a discount in the subsequent month: "That's normal at that branch. It's happened to me several times... You complain, pay now, and next month the bill is much lower. Don't fall for that trap."
Another resident from Santo Domingo, Villa Clara, disclosed that the meter reader himself admitted that "the company increased consumption readings for almost all customers," sometimes tripling the actual use.
Widespread Consumer Frustration
The bills mentioned in the comments varied from 350 to 18,000 pesos, in households receiving only one to four hours of electricity daily.
One consumer from Cienfuegos lamented, "I got billed 1,073 pesos, and we're subjected to 60 hours of blackout with just one hour of power." Another shared, "No electricity, yet they billed me 8,248 pesos, what a mess." A third user sarcastically summed up the situation: "With rounds of 24-hour blackouts and two hours of light, the bill just keeps growing. Magic."
The anger was widespread: "This is becoming a trend. We pay more with 20 hours of blackout than with a full day of electricity. The electric company or its workers are blatantly robbing us," wrote another user.
Crisis Deepens Amid Energy Shortages
This is not an isolated incident. On June 2, Sisi Aguilera, a Havana resident, reported bills of 20,000 and 16,000 pesos over two months without regular electrical service.
The backdrop is an energy crisis that, in June 2026, resulted in a 2,040 MW deficit against a demand of 3,000 MW, with outages affecting 65-68% of the national electrical system and blackouts exceeding 20 hours daily in many areas.
Adding to the problem is the electricity tariff introduced in March 2024, which sets a rate of 12.31 Cuban pesos per kilowatt-hour for the 701 to 1,000 kWh monthly range, where the reported consumption falls.
In March 2026, the Electric Company acknowledged that high bills might stem from reading errors or estimates applied when meter access is unavailable. However, this doesn't satisfy a population witnessing rising bills while electricity remains scarce.
"They provide power for four days a month, charge for the entire month, and increase the bill. It doesn't make sense, just like everything else," a user concluded, capturing the frustration of thousands of Cubans facing a service that charges more the less it delivers.
Understanding Cuba's Electricity Billing Crisis
Why are Cuban electricity bills so high despite frequent blackouts?
The high bills are attributed to potential reading errors, estimations when meter access is limited, and a tariff structure that doesn't align with the frequent power outages. Additionally, some customers report being charged for inflated consumption.
What impact do blackouts have on electricity billing in Cuba?
Blackouts reduce the actual electricity consumption, yet many customers are billed for higher usage. This discrepancy often leads to public dissatisfaction and accusations of billing malpractice.
How are Cuban citizens responding to these billing inconsistencies?
Many Cubans are voicing their frustration on social media and in public forums, sharing experiences and urging others to demand accurate billing and accountability from the electric company.