Cuban comedian Mario Sardiñas, well-known for his character Chequera from the show "Vivir del cuento," has released a fresh sketch on Facebook lampooning Cuba's ongoing energy crisis. In this skit, the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant is humorously portrayed as an elderly lady attempting to "leave"—or rather, disconnect—from the national electric grid, only to be stopped by Chequera.
In the video, "Guiteras" shouts, "Let me go! Let me go!" to which Chequera retorts, "You can't leave anymore, Guitera. Besides, where do you think you're heading? You just got in."
The sketch centers around the idea that each time the plant disconnects, the repercussions are dire for both its own stability and the population. Chequera warns, "Don't you realize, every time you go out, you cause a big mess," reminding her that "you've fallen about 14 times this year," and cautions, "before you know it, you'll be without a hip."
Far from being just comedic exaggeration, the Guiteras plant indeed experienced at least 14 outages from the National Electric System between January and June 2026, primarily due to recurring issues with the boiler and economizer.
The punchline of the sketch comes when "Guiteras" asks for permission to visit her "friends" Felton, Mariel, and Renté—three other beleaguered Cuban thermoelectric plants. Chequera firmly responds, "No, Guitera! No! You know I can't stand those bad influences!"
This comedic portrayal accurately reflects the dire state of Cuba's thermoelectric infrastructure. On June 5th, an engineer publicly admitted the lack of necessary parts for major repairs at the Guiteras plant. On June 1st, reports indicated the economizer malfunctioned for the third time in two weeks, with repair timelines estimated between 72 and 96 hours. By May 30th, the plant had again disconnected from the grid due to a boiler leak, less than 36 hours after being reconnected.
Similarly, on June 7th, the Felton plant in Holguín also went offline, marking one of the worst days of the year for Cuba's electrical system. This widespread collapse has resulted in power outages exceeding 20 to 22 hours daily in Havana, with some areas reporting up to 40 continuous hours without electricity in May 2026, as the power generation deficit hit 2,204 MW.
This isn't the first time Sardiñas has turned the energy crisis into comedic material. In April, he released a viral sketch about power outages from Artemisa, and in late May, he spoofed the 800-peso cost of a haircut with direct references to the thermoelectric plants.
The latest video on Guiteras amassed over 45,000 views and nearly 2,700 reactions, highlighting that humor remains one of the few outlets for Cubans confronting daily darkness.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis Through Humor
What is the primary issue with the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant?
The Antonio Guiteras plant has faced multiple outages due to recurring problems with its boiler and economizer, leading to a significant impact on Cuba's national electric grid.
How has Mario Sardiñas used humor to address Cuba's energy problems?
Mario Sardiñas, through his character Chequera, has created sketches that satirize the nation's energy crisis, using humor to highlight the frequent power outages and the challenges faced by thermoelectric plants.
What impact has the energy crisis had on daily life in Cuba?
The energy crisis has led to extensive power outages, with some regions experiencing over 20 hours without electricity daily, severely affecting daily life and the economy.