On Tuesday, Havana's Electric Company issued a cautionary message on its Facebook page, highlighting the dangers of plugging in all household appliances at once when electricity is restored. The campaign, featuring infographics and audio, described it as a "common mistake with serious consequences for both you and your community."
The state-run entity outlined three main repercussions of this action: electronic boards in televisions, refrigerators, and air conditioners could suffer damage due to voltage fluctuations; neighborhood transformers might become overloaded; and there's a risk of triggering another blackout across the area.
To mitigate these issues, the company suggests keeping electronics unplugged during blackouts, waiting three to five minutes after power is restored, and then connecting devices one at a time. Start with low-consumption items like lamps and fans, and save high-consumption appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines for last.
The announcement sparked a flood of comments, with many labeling it as a joke, meme, or an insult. The feedback reveals a significant disconnect between official advice and the harsh realities residents face daily. One user sarcastically asked, "If they give us power for 10 minutes, how long should I wait to plug in the fridge?" Others pointed out that the limited power availability makes any protocol impractical: "If we wait 3 or 5 minutes, the blackout will catch up with us," or "In 40 minutes, we have to do everything: cook, wash, charge, and cool something."
Public Frustration and Irony
The prevailing sentiment is one of irony mixed with frustration. Comments like "by the time you're done with the last one, the power is out again" echo frequently, alongside criticisms of the erratic power management that residents find more harmful than simultaneous reconnections. "It's cynical to create a problem and then blame the people for mishandling their equipment," one commenter stated.
Havana residents highlight a stark contradiction: the advice assumes a stable electricity supply, which often doesn't exist. Power outages in Havana exceed 20 hours daily, and when the electricity does return, it lasts between 30 minutes to three hours, with frequent interruptions hindering any staggered reconnection process.
One user expressed gratitude for the advice but pointed out a crucial oversight: "The message omits the key detail of time constraints. When a block only has three hours of service a day, people are forced to connect everything possible in that time to cook, wash, and preserve food."
Consequences of Erratic Power Supply
Users also noted that the company's own "stop-and-start" approach—brief, repeated interruptions during service—harms appliances as much, if not more, than simultaneous reconnections. "It's not advisable to cut the power for 30 hours, turn it on, and then turn it off again after 15 minutes," criticized one commenter, directly blaming the company for the overloads.
One user shared that her refrigerator broke despite having a voltage controller, due to these interruptions, and asked a question that remained unanswered: "Who pays for it?"
This announcement comes amid Cuba's most severe electrical crisis in recent history: as of Tuesday, there was a peak-hour deficit of around 2,080 MW, with only 1,100 MW available against a demand of 3,150 MW. On June 25, a record deficit of 2,208 MW was recorded. The country’s largest power plant, Antonio Guiteras, has been disconnected 16 times in 2026 alone, and over 1,300 protests erupted in May, marking the highest number since July 11, 2021.
This isn't the first time the company has issued such recommendations. In September 2025, following a nationwide blackout, the Cuban government urged citizens to delay reconnecting appliances, eliciting similar disbelief and frustration. "The only thing that prevents another blackout is for them to leave," summarized a user in this week's comment thread.
Key Questions About Havana's Power Crisis
Why does the Electric Company advise against plugging in all appliances at once?
The Electric Company warns that connecting all appliances simultaneously can lead to voltage fluctuations, damaging electronic boards, overloading transformers, and potentially causing another blackout.
What are residents' main criticisms of the company's advice?
Residents criticize the advice as impractical due to limited electricity availability and frequent outages. They argue that the recommendation doesn't align with the real challenge of having to accomplish household tasks within short power windows.
How severe is the current power crisis in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing its worst power crisis in recent history, with daily outages exceeding 20 hours in Havana. The power deficit has reached record levels, and there have been numerous protests against the situation.