The Sancti Spíritus Electric Company has pointed fingers at residents for the increasing failures of distribution transformers, which are complicating the power supply in the province. According to the company, load surges caused by reconnecting equipment after extended outages are hastening the deterioration of an already overstressed network.
In an interview with Radio Sancti Spíritus, Odeivy Valdés Alba, the company's technical director, acknowledged the understandable reaction of the population. However, he warned that these demand spikes lead to malfunctions in facilities operating under critical conditions.
"We are doing everything possible to replace damaged transformers as quickly as we can, but sometimes we have to take a transformer from another area to replace the one needed in the neighborhood," Valdés explained.
The official elaborated that simply replacing the same equipment often isn't enough; the overload persists, necessitating the installation of two transformers where there was previously one. This process, known as "secondary circuit division," is not always feasible immediately and can delay repairs for days.
The most severe issues have occurred with 19 kV transformers, leaving some neighborhoods without power for up to 15 to 20 consecutive days.
Impact on Stable Service Areas
Valdés specifically mentioned residents in areas with stable service, such as Cabaiguán and the Perico zone, where electricity remains uninterrupted.
"In places like Cabaiguán and the Perico zone, where the electrical service is steady, some unidentified uses of electricity have emerged because power isn't cut off. These individuals need to realize they're jeopardizing their own service. If I have a residential service and use it to power a bread maker, I'm creating an overload," Valdés argued.
Challenges in Continuous Power Circuits
The technical director also highlighted issues in circuits receiving electricity 24/7, such as the "Hospital Ring" or circuit 118. Here, transformers are stressed by intensive household consumption, and "the solution is not readily available."
Recently, the Holguín Electric Company admitted that each time a circuit closes, 10 to 20 transformers are triggered by overload, and receiving six replacement units from Havana falls short when 25 are damaged.
In Guantánamo, the Electric Union acknowledged on June 7 that there was no physical availability of transformers to replace eight damaged units, while in Santiago de Cuba, crews removed transformers from entire neighborhoods without providing a timeline for replacement or explanations to residents.
Limited Repair Facilities
Cuba's capacity to repair transformers is limited, with only three specialized workshops nationwide: one in Havana, another in Villa Clara, and one in Manzanillo. This makes each breakdown a slow and uncertain process.
This Sunday, the projected power deficit for peak hours is expected to reach 1,915 MW, with only 1,215 MW available to meet a demand of 3,100 MW. This means more than 60% of the country could be left without electricity simultaneously.
Understanding the Power Crisis in Cuba
What is causing the transformer failures in Sancti Spíritus?
The failures are primarily due to load surges when residents reconnect equipment after long outages, exacerbating the stress on an already fragile power network.
How is the electric company addressing these issues?
The company is attempting to replace damaged transformers as quickly as possible, sometimes relocating them from other areas, but this solution is not always immediate.
Why are some areas experiencing more severe power outages?
Areas with 19 kV transformers have seen longer outages, sometimes up to 15-20 days, due to the severity of transformer failures and repair delays.
What are the challenges in repairing damaged transformers in Cuba?
With only three repair workshops in the country, each transformer breakdown becomes a slow and uncertain repair process.