An unexpected oscillation in transmission lines led to a partial disconnection from the National Electric System (SEN) on Thursday, cutting off electricity to eastern Cuba and taking three thermoelectric units offline.
The Electric Union (UNE) announced that the oscillation resulted in the shutdown of unit 1 at the Lidio Ramón Pérez Thermoelectric Plant, commonly known as Felton; unit 6 at the Diez de Octubre Plant; and unit 6 at the Antonio Maceo Plant.
"As a consequence, the eastern provinces, from Holguín to Guantánamo, have been disconnected from the National Electric System," stated the state-owned company in its initial report regarding the outage.
Impact on Eastern Provinces
The disruption also affected Las Tunas. According to the state newspaper Periódico 26, referencing the provincial Electric Company, the area experienced a blackout due to "oscillations in the national grid."
This incident left the entire eastern region of Cuba—comprising Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo—without power.
Granma's Response
Granma's Electric Company confirmed on its Telegram channel that the incident caused a "partial disconnection" from the SEN, affecting the whole eastern region.
The Granma entity attributed the event to the "unexpected shutdown" of Felton and subsequent repeated oscillations in the national grid.
Understanding Electrical Oscillations
An oscillation in the electrical grid occurs when critical system parameters, such as frequency, voltage, or power flow, experience abrupt changes that disrupt the balance between generation and consumption.
If these fluctuations are strong enough, automatic protections may disconnect lines, plants, or entire regions to prevent greater damage, leading to sudden losses in generation and separations within different areas of the system.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Power Outage
What caused the power outage in eastern Cuba?
The power outage was caused by an oscillation in the transmission lines, which led to a partial disconnection from the National Electric System (SEN).
Which areas in Cuba were affected by the outage?
The outage affected the eastern provinces of Cuba, including Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo.
What is an oscillation in the electrical grid?
An oscillation in the electrical grid occurs when there are abrupt changes in critical system parameters, such as frequency or voltage, disrupting the balance between generation and consumption.