The beloved character Chequera from Cuba's hit comedy series "Vivir del Cuento" has turned the nation's frustration with power outages into a song. In a 42-second clip that has garnered over 20,000 views on Facebook, Chequera humorously captures the daily reality for millions of Cubans: enduring four hours of intermittent outages for every ten minutes of electricity.
The video, titled "EL CHEQUE SE PEGA CON EL TEMA DEL QUITI-PON," features actor Mario Sardiñas as Chequera singing about the "quita y pon" phenomenon, coining the term "kitipón" to describe these stop-and-start power cycles.
The song's lyrics are straightforward: "With the kitipón, with the kitipón / When they turn on the power, I worry about the kitipón / Don't give me more power, I'd rather have the blackout."
The catchy chorus takes aim at the National Electric System: "Four hours kitipón, ten minutes of power / That's the plan by the SEN, for my people's enjoyment, kitipón."
Chequera also highlights the physical toll of this inconsistency: "Don't turn on the power, it raises my blood pressure," echoing a widespread complaint among Cubans as these cycles of on-and-off damage appliances and create constant stress, ironically more so than a complete blackout.
The video comes amidst a historical crisis for Cuba's electrical system. This past Saturday, the SEN reported a predicted maximum power shortfall of 2,240 MW, with only 1,090 MW available to meet a demand of 3,300 MW.
In 2026 alone, the electrical grid has experienced at least seven total collapses. Two significant failures occurred in August, the first overnight from August 2 to 3, and the second just hours after power was restored. The year's peak shortfall was on August 4, reaching 2,411 MW, with a generation capacity of just 895 MW the previous day.
This isn't Chequera's first time turning the energy crisis into comedic material. Since April, the character has released viral sketches about 16-hour blackouts, SEN collapses, and the daily struggles of Cubans. In July, Chequera humorously updated the power system's "blocks," and in June, featured in a sketch about the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant.
This latest song represents a shift from traditional sketches to a catchy musical parody, capturing in under a minute the pent-up frustration with a crisis rooted in structural issues—aging power plants, fuel shortages, and lack of maintenance—that the regime has failed to resolve.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What is the "kitipón" phenomenon?
The "kitipón" refers to the frequent, short cycles of power outages and restorations that Cubans experience, causing significant stress and damage to appliances.
How severe is Cuba's current electrical crisis?
Cuba's electrical crisis is at a historic level, with power shortages reaching over 2,400 MW and multiple total grid collapses occurring in 2026 alone.
Why hasn't the Cuban regime resolved the power issues?
The regime has struggled to address the crisis due to structural problems like outdated power plants, fuel shortages, and inadequate maintenance.