On Thursday, a Cuban woman shared a video on the Azucar Cuba Facebook page, expressing her frustration over her neighborhood's lack of electricity for almost an entire week. She directed a pointed question at the regime: "Can someone explain if my circuit has been cut off from electricity or if my power is being sold?"
According to her account, since 5 a.m. on Monday, July 13, her area has been without power.
Monday passed entirely without electricity, on Tuesday the "zen"—a distributed generation system—failed, leaving them in the dark again, and on Wednesday, power was restored for only an hour and 20 minutes, not enough time to charge even her personal generator. "One hour and 20 minutes, and I couldn't even charge my ecoflor," she lamented.
Disparities in Power Distribution Highlighted
The woman openly questioned the distribution of circuits and pointed out an inequality that many Cubans feel is intentional: prioritizing electricity supply to the tourism sector while residential neighborhoods remain without power.
"This circuit prioritization is to sell more electricity," she observed, concluding with a warning: "They are testing the people's patience. I'm leaving it at that."
The video quickly garnered over 35,900 views, 2,179 reactions, and 277 comments, indicating widespread frustration with a relentless crisis.
Systemic Issues in Cuba's Power Grid
This perception of inequality is rooted in the reality of Cuba's electrical system, which maintains prioritized circuits for hotels and critical infrastructure, leaving residential areas to endure widespread outages.
Tourist hotels are equipped with their own generators, ensuring a constant power supply. During events like the "Summer 2K26 Kickoff" in Varadero, tourists enjoyed uninterrupted electricity while the rest of the country suffered outages lasting from 20 to 35 hours.
On Thursday, Cuba's power deficit reached 1,764 MW, with a forecasted shortfall of 2,240 MW during peak nighttime hours, representing 69% of the country's total demand.
Frequent Power Outages in July
In just the first 16 days of July, the National Electric System (SEN) collapsed five times: on July 6, 8, 10, and 14, with the July 8 outage marking the highest historical deficit, at 2,341 MW, when only 935 MW was available against a 3,100 MW demand.
In Havana, outages exceed 35 consecutive hours daily, while provinces like Matanzas have recorded up to 87 hours without electricity. Structural issues include 106 distributed generation plants out of service due to fuel shortages, outdated thermoelectric infrastructure, and halted oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico.
Social discontent is escalating unchecked. June 2026 saw a record 107 demonstrations, with protests in Alamar, La Hata, and neighborhoods in Santiago de Cuba. The regime's response has been minimal: Miguel Díaz-Canel called on July 10 to "better organize blackouts" without announcing any measures to increase generation. Meanwhile, the Electric Union's reports of system restorations were continuously contradicted by citizens living in darkness.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What is causing the frequent power outages in Cuba?
The outages are primarily due to a combination of insufficient fuel supply, outdated infrastructure, and the suspension of oil deliveries from key partners like Venezuela and Mexico.
Why are tourist areas in Cuba less affected by blackouts?
Tourist areas often have their own generators, ensuring a steady electricity supply to maintain operations and guest comfort, unlike residential areas that suffer from power cuts.
How are Cuban citizens reacting to the power crisis?
There is growing social unrest, with record numbers of protests and public demonstrations as citizens express their frustration over the government's handling of the power situation.