The Electric Company of Villa Clara announced this Monday a new strategy for blackout planning that, rather than alleviating the energy situation in the province, officializes power cuts of up to 19 hours a day for a large part of the population.
According to the new scheme, the electrical circuits have been reorganized into 11 blocks with rotating power cuts, where some will only have five hours of electricity available per day.
The measure responds to the "critical situation" of generation deficit that the country is experiencing, states the official entity's Facebook page.
Six of these blocks will be operated from substations with electrical service in two segments (three and two-hour shifts with power), while the remaining five will rely on the direct intervention of guard vehicles with a single five-hour service window.
The system includes some exceptions: the circuits considered priority such as hospitals, aqueducts, and those related to the harvest, which will be protected during their critical hours. In the same category are the ones associated with the Frequency Derivative (DFDT), essential for the stability of the national electrical system, which will maintain a minimum load of 10 megawatts (MW), the information specified.
In another post, the Villa Clara electricity company warned that the schedules could change if national availability improves, although it does not provide any real guarantees of stability. Meanwhile, the white bars in the official graph—which indicate periods without electricity—cover most of the day.
According to the authorities, the new planning pattern is designed "to balance demand, protect essential processes, and ensure greater equity in the service."
But the situation at hand is far from a solution: it confirms the deterioration of the electrical system, the inability to maintain a basic level of services, and the growing energy precariousness that affects Cuban families.
In practice, this plan represents a deepening of the structural blackout that the country is already experiencing, forcing the population to reorganize their lives according to an electric survival logic, where hours of electricity are the exception.
A week ago, authorities in Matanzas, the second province that consumes the most electricity in Cuba, announced the increase of the "maximum reducible" in the territory from 9.3% to 10% of the total national impact, a decision that confirmed the worsening of the energy crisis in the country.
Cuba woke up on Tuesday plunged into a severe energy situation, following a full day of uninterrupted blackouts that continued throughout the night.
Although the commissioning of unit 3 in Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque, with 70 MW is anticipated, UNE forecasted a deficit of 1,440 MW for the nighttime peak, with an estimated impact of 1,510 MW during that time.
On May 1st, the Cuban regime offered a "miraculous" electrical truce to project an image of stability during the events for International Workers' Day. However, the artificial respite was short-lived. Just a day later, blackouts returned with intensity, lasting for hours and affecting large areas of the country.
With less than a month until the official start of summer, the situation remains critical, and the authorities persist in their narrative of vague and empty promises, while the population continues to face extensive and frequent blackouts across the country.
The "strategy" of Miguel Díaz-Canel's government to schedule blackouts throughout the year for maintenance and to resolve breakdowns in thermal power plants, with the aim of having them fully operational in the summer when consumption in the country surges, continues to yield no results.
According to the official newspaper Granma, the regime is working on a "gradual" strategy to restore the electrical system, although officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem) themselves acknowledge that, in the short term, power outages will not decrease and that for this summer they plan to reduce them to "only" four hours a day.
Nevertheless, a recent video shows Santiago de Cuba in blackout while hotels remain lit, highlighting the regime's policy of prioritizing tourism over the basic needs of the population.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Energy Crisis in Villa Clara and Cuba
How long can a blackout last in Villa Clara according to the new strategy?
The new blackout strategy in Villa Clara includes cuts of up to 19 hours daily for certain areas of the province. This plan is part of a measure to address the energy generation deficit in Cuba.
How are power outages organized in Villa Clara?
In Villa Clara, the power outages are organized into 11 blocks with rotating shifts, where some will have only five hours of electricity per day. Six blocks will be managed by substations, while the other five will rely on direct intervention to receive electricity in a single five-hour window.
What are the priority circuits that will not experience blackouts in Villa Clara?
The prioritized circuits, such as those supplying hospitals, aqueducts, and the sugar harvest, will be protected during their critical hours. Circuits associated with Frequency Derivation, essential for the stability of the national electrical system, are also protected.
What do the Cuban authorities expect regarding the improvement of the energy situation?
Although the authorities have mentioned the possibility of changes in schedules if national availability improves, they do not provide real guarantees of stability. In general, the Cuban regime has failed to offer effective solutions for the energy crisis, leaving the population in a critical situation.
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