The Villa Clara Electric Company recently announced on its Facebook page that Rubén Campos, the general director of the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), paid a visit to the Ernesto Che Guevara contingent. This group from Villa Clara is working on the Cosculluela water supply source, managed by Aguas de La Habana in the Boyeros municipality of Havana.
During his visit, Campos inspected the site where the Villa Clara team is performing essential maintenance, repairs, and upgrades on electrical lines and equipment. He took the time to speak with the linemen about their working conditions and safety protocols, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing "the safety of the crew above all else."
Despite the official narrative, the announcement was met with a flood of sarcastic and critical comments from Cubans who have been enduring prolonged power outages. The online community was quick to respond, with one user mockingly stating, "That's why circuit 132 has power," implying that the director's visit only benefits select areas, leaving the rest of the province in darkness.
Most of the backlash came from Villa Clara residents, frustrated that while their workers are dispatched to serve the capital, their own region suffers from numerous unresolved outages and limited daily electricity access. One user candidly highlighted the severity of the issue: "When will circuit 51 in Sagua la Grande be addressed? Why does Villa Clara face a daily deficit exceeding 200 MW?"
Public Outcry Over Power Outages
From Camajuaní, a resident sarcastically noted, "We get one hour of power every two days; that's progress." Complaints poured in from various municipalities. A resident of Remedios questioned, "When will they bring the broken transformer back? We haven't had power for five days." In Calabazar de Sagua, another resident lamented, "We haven't had electricity since the day before yesterday, and when it comes on, it doesn't last two hours."
A neighbor from circuit 169 reported enduring "over 30 hours without power due to a minor issue," while someone from circuit 31 criticized the company for restoring service only at night, which complicates meal preparations for families. They asked, "Why not split the service, half during the day and the rest at night?"
Infrastructure Improvements Questioned
Critics also questioned the regime's touted infrastructure improvements. One user wrote, "Why upgrade infrastructure when poles and cables are rarely used?" Another added, "And Villa Clara struggles with unresolved outages; it's all show, no substance."
Some called for the director to expand his tour, with a user suggesting, "He needs to visit San Juan de los Yeras." Others dismissed the official statements as mere propaganda, with one user bluntly stating, "Lying is all they do."
Additionally, Díaz-Canel visited the Cosculluela water supply on Tuesday, as the government attempts to revitalize an over six-decade-old facility amid Havana's severe water crisis. His visit, along with that of the UNE director, comes as the regime approaches a self-imposed deadline to demonstrate progress in its strategy to address ongoing blackouts, breakdowns, and water issues affecting thousands in Havana.
According to state-run Canal Caribe, Cosculluela is the second most crucial water source in the western capital, supplying more than 33% of water to Playa and Marianao. The facility's prolonged operation without comprehensive rehabilitation highlights the decay of critical infrastructure necessary for the city's water supply.
While the regime showcased images of officials inspecting projects, Villa Clara faced a 191 MW shortfall due to generation deficits, with areas like Remedios suffering from outages caused by a damaged transformer, echoing the grievances expressed in public comments.
Just four days prior, Cuba experienced its eighth nationwide power system collapse of 2026, from which Villa Clara took days to partially recover, with up to 142 circuits down and a pre-existing deficit of 204 MW.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What was the purpose of Rubén Campos' visit to Villa Clara?
Rubén Campos visited Villa Clara to inspect the maintenance and repair work being conducted by the Ernesto Che Guevara contingent on electrical lines and equipment at the Cosculluela water supply source.
Why are Villa Clara residents frustrated with the power situation?
Residents of Villa Clara are frustrated because their workers are being sent to Havana while their own province suffers from numerous electrical outages and limited power availability, leading to daily struggles.
What are the criticisms regarding Cuba's infrastructure improvements?
Critics argue that the infrastructure improvements are superficial, as many areas still suffer from outages, and the enhancements do not seem to translate into reliable service for the population.