This Tuesday, Canal Caribe aired the official statement from the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) regarding the latest complete failure of the National Electric System (SEN), marking the fifth such event in 2026. The Cuban public, reacting on social media, responded with a mix of outrage, dark humor, and collective exhaustion, describing these incidents as an unbearable routine.
The grid collapsed at 11:05 AM on Monday due to critical frequency oscillations triggered by the shutdown of Unit 1 at the Felton thermoelectric plant in Holguín. This was the third complete outage in just eight days, following failures on July 6 and July 10.
Familiar faces, journalist Bernardo Espinosa and engineer Lázaro Guerra Hernández, once again took to the screen with their usual explanations. The Canal Caribe post on Facebook garnered hundreds of comments reflecting the extent of the Cuban people's loss of faith in these statements.
"It's just pathetic," wrote one user, encapsulating the general sentiment. Another pointed out the irony: "What electricity are they using to broadcast the news, especially since nobody can watch it?"
Public Discontent and Mockery
The spokesperson duo became targets for ridicule: "This pair has become more famous than the Dynamic Duo in their time, only they're called Bernardo and Lázaro," joked one commenter. Another added, "Bernardo is the only journalist in Cuba who won't lose his job. Draw your own conclusions."
The term "protocol," frequently used by authorities to describe reconnection procedures, was mercilessly mocked: "Protocols, protototos, protitutes, and protoculos, all active since the protosaurs, we get it, don't waste your breath."
Underlying Issues and Government Denial
Many pointed to what they believe the regime refuses to admit: "They simply don't have oil. Stop lying." Others highlighted the absurdity of the situation with phrases like "Everything falls apart except what should" or "Legend says they were never connected."
The accumulated fatigue was evident in comments such as "Two hours of electricity recovery every 40 hours without power. It's truly laughable" and "For future reports, just change the time, the rest of the script remains the same."
A woman from Holguín shared her specific experience: she had power between 3:00 AM and 6:30 AM, and then again at 9:48 PM, nine hours after the outage. "It's shameful to hear the same bad news every day," she wrote.
Technical Challenges and Political Blame
The technical backdrop to this despair is dire. Prior to the collapse, the UNE forecasted a shortfall of 1,990 to 2,020 megawatts, with only 1,155 megawatts available against a demand of 3,150. In July 2026, daily blackouts average between 20 to 24 hours, with some areas enduring over 72 consecutive hours in darkness.
Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy denied human error, attributing the crisis to fuel shortages and sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. "We say it repeatedly: there is a complete lack of fuel, and we have no access to spare parts for our thermoelectric units," he stated, as reported by state media Cubadebate.
Cubans, however, have heard variations of this rhetoric for years. "Protocols, plans, projects, blah, blah, blah, people can't take it anymore. What system are they talking about? It's total chaos," summarized one commentator, expressing widespread frustration.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 107 protests in June 2026, a historic high, nearly double the previous record, with Havana leading with 82 of these demonstrations. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero promised to restore the SEN "as soon as possible," without specifying when Cubans might expect the return of electricity to their homes.
FAQs on Cuba's Power Grid Crisis
What caused the latest collapse of Cuba's National Electric System?
The collapse was due to critical frequency oscillations triggered by the shutdown of Unit 1 at the Felton thermoelectric plant in Holguín.
How have Cubans reacted to the recurring power outages?
Cubans have expressed frustration, using social media to share their outrage, dark humor, and exhaustion over what they see as an unbearable routine.
What are the underlying issues of the power grid failures in Cuba?
The failures are attributed to a lack of fuel and spare parts for thermoelectric units, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, as stated by Cuban officials.