Electric Company asks Santiago residents not to connect high-consumption devices: "It would collapse the system again."

The province of Santiago de Cuba, one of the most affected after the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) last Friday, warned its customers this Monday that when the service is restored, connecting high-consumption equipment could cause a new failure in the system.

The announcement was made by the Electric Company via the Telegram platform, but it is naive to assume that people will follow this recommendation when thousands of families have been without electricity for over 72 hours, facing the desperation of watching the few food items they managed to store in their refrigerators spoil.

"The UNE requests all customers to please refrain from connecting high-consumption equipment as long as they receive electricity service," the statement indicated.

In addition, the Electric Company emphasized that it is crucial not to overload the system, as a sudden increase in consumption could destabilize it again and cause more blackouts in the region, making the population responsible for the uncertain "future" of the restoration of service in the province of Santiago de Cuba.

The situation worsens because thousands of families do not have gas or charcoal to cook with, and as soon as they receive the service in their homes, they will try to save the few foods they still have, using pots, burners, and refrigeration for that purpose.

This Sunday, hours after enthusiastically announcing the launch of generating unit No. 3 of the Antonio Maceo Thermal Power Plant, also known as Rente, in Santiago de Cuba, the situation took an unexpected turn.

The power plant, which was in the process of loading power for subsequent synchronization, suffered a failure that led to the collapse of the system, and as a result, a microsystem linking the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo fell, leaving them without electric service.

The third night of total blackout in Cuba was the scene of new protests in cities across the country, as well as threats of violent repression from the regime.

Images of a large police presence in Santiago de Cuba confirm the tension that is felt during these dark hours.

A video shared on social media by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada showed the deployment of several patrols from the Revolutionary National Police (PNR) through the streets of the city.