Cuban Woman Highlights Power Outage Frustrations: "No Explanations, Just Endless Hours Without Power"

A Cuban woman named Keidi Pérez has taken to Facebook, posting a reel that captures the irony and frustration of life on the island: power outages lasting 50, 80, or countless hours without any explanations from the regime. This video, which has garnered thousands of views, mirrors the collective exhaustion with an ongoing energy crisis that shows no signs of resolution.

"If you were tired of speeches, they are over. Everything is over here," Pérez begins, setting the tone for a message devoid of promises or excuses. "No one even bothers to explain anymore; it’s just 50, 80, however many hours without power. Take what you get and don’t complain because crying won't help," she continues, blending sarcasm with a palpable sense of despair that resonates with many listeners.

Pérez paints a picture of a society at a silent breaking point: "Here, there's nowhere left to turn. Everyone's masks are off, no one cares, and we matter less than anyone else." Her message concludes with a stark acknowledgment of the plight of ordinary Cubans: "We, the common people, are stuck. So let me tell you—it’s what we have to deal with. And keep quiet, because it's in your best interest."

Pérez’s words are far from hyperbole. On June 10, the Union Eléctrica reported a mere 960 MW available against a peak demand of 2,595 MW, leaving over 65% of the national grid uncovered during peak times, as reported by international media. In Havana, blackouts have stretched to 20 and 22 hours daily during May and June. Provinces like Granma have experienced over 48 consecutive hours without power.

On March 16, Cuba faced a complete disconnect from the National Electric System. The longest blackout in that cycle lasted 29 hours and 29 minutes. Since then, the generation deficit has not dropped below 1,000 MW daily, peaking over 2,000 MW in May and June.

The root causes are structural: aging thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages, and 106 distributed generation plants offline, rendering 890 MW unavailable. The regime has yet to propose a credible solution or set timelines for recovery.

The frustration has spilled onto social media and the streets. On June 11, residents of Luyanó protested with pots and pans after more than 30 hours without electricity or water. On June 7, people in Regla blocked a street in front of the municipal government, chanting "We want power!" Just days earlier, residents of Toledo in Artemisa clashed with police over prolonged blackouts.

Other Cubans have reported electricity bills as high as 20,000 pesos despite irregular service. A woman named Lucía shared on TikTok on June 12 her experience of seven consecutive days without power, enduring extreme heat, mosquitoes, and the inability to cook with gas. Another mother in Havana recounted losing income each day electricity is unavailable.

In April 2026, the UN warned that Cuba's energy crisis has a "systemic and increasingly severe" impact on health, water, food, and education. The organization reported over 96,000 delayed surgeries—including 11,000 for children—32,000 pregnant women at risk, and nearly half a million children with shortened school days. Addressing the crisis requires $94 million, but funding shortfalls are around $60 million.

While the international community attempts to fill the financial gap, the regime remains silent. "Speechless," as Keidi Pérez succinctly put it with bitter irony.