A young Cuban named Emanuel González Moral has gone viral on Facebook with a humorous take on what it means to have electricity on the island. "Today I woke up feeling like a millionaire," he declared.
The video, titled "Living Like a Millionaire for a Few Hours (With Power in Cuba)," captures a morning filled with activities that would be mundane elsewhere: toasting bread, charging every electronic device, filling containers with water, cleaning his sister's bike, watching a movie on a fully charged laptop, and ironing a school uniform.
One standout moment was discovering a yogurt frozen solid in the refrigerator, a clear sign that the power had been on long enough for the appliance to actually work. "The chances of freezing something in Cuba these days is 1%," Emanuel admitted.
The clip's description sums it up with irony: "A breakfast with a toaster, a movie on the laptop, and a frozen yogurt... Is this Switzerland? No, it's my home with electricity."
The Dual Struggle: Power and Water
The video also highlights another harsh reality familiar to Cubans: when the power goes out, so does the water. "In my house, as soon as the power is out, the water stops. Without water here, you can't wash, clean, or live," Emanuel explained, filling jugs as his mother instructed. Approximately 87% of Cuban water systems rely on electric pumps, making each blackout a double deprivation.
He posed a question that echoes the exhaustion of millions: "When will Cubans stop living like this, always watching the clock and the power outlet?"
The video concludes as poignantly as it begins: just after he finishes ironing the uniform, another blackout hits. "Happiness is fleeting," he wrote.
Electricity as a Luxury
Emanuel's video is part of a growing trend on Cuban social media: documenting the "luxury" of having electricity, with people celebrating the return of power, rushing to charge phones, or launching into household chores before the transformer says "enough."
As of September 4, the National Electric System had only 1,000 MW available against a demand of 3,250 MW, predicting a 2,190 MW shortfall.
The National Electric Union (UNE) warned at the end of August that blackouts could worsen from September to December due to the simultaneous maintenance of several thermoelectric units, forecasting even darker months ahead.
Challenges of Electricity in Cuba
Why is electricity considered a luxury in Cuba?
Electricity is deemed a luxury in Cuba due to frequent power outages and an unreliable supply, making it difficult for residents to carry out everyday tasks that require electricity.
How do power outages affect water supply in Cuba?
In Cuba, around 87% of water systems depend on electric pumps. Therefore, when a power outage occurs, it also disrupts the water supply, exacerbating the inconvenience for households.
What measures is the National Electric Union taking?
The National Electric Union has indicated that blackouts may become more frequent due to maintenance on thermoelectric units. This suggests that there are ongoing challenges in addressing the power deficit.