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The partial collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) that occurred Thursday morning has reignited the indignation of Cubans, who expressed their weariness and frustration on social media in response to what they perceive as a continuous mockery. Although the Electric Union (UNE) later announced that the issue had been resolved, the reactions highlighted a mounting discontent that cannot be eased by the official promise of “stability.”
The state entity explained that the cause of the incident was a “fluctuation” that caused a “partial disconnection” of the system, without specifying which areas were affected or how many hours the service was interrupted in each territory. The brief statement, published on social media, was met with a wave of criticism, mockery, and sarcasm from a population worn out by chronic blackouts.
"Leave it as is, since there’s never any electricity anyway," quipped one user. Another summarized the collective sentiment with sarcasm: "They're already rehearsing before the cyclone hits." Most comments agreed on one point: the announcement offered nothing new, just another justification in a long line of failures. "Oscillation of what and partial for whom... you have no shame at all," wrote one internet user, while another lamented that "we live permanently with two or three hours of service daily, and they don’t call that disconnection."
Many mocked the technical language used by the UNE, which they described as empty and ridiculous. “One, two, three, testing… partial disconnection… one, two, three… now total,” someone wrote in a mocking tone. “What is the concept of brief?” asked another, referring to the term used by the company to indicate the estimated recovery time. “This looks like a drill for when Melissa passes,” noted one comment.
The proximity of tropical storm Melissa heightened concerns among many who wonder how the SEN will respond when the real bad weather arrives. “The cyclone hasn't even hit, and the system is already down,” commented a Cuban. “The only light we’re going to see is the sunlight, if there is any,” added another user with a resigned tone. Dark humor was also a way to channel frustration: “A Real Madrid player falls, and the SEN disconnects,” someone wrote. Another added, “The fresh air messes up the system.”
Others, more critical, pointed directly to the privileges that persist in the country regarding electricity distribution. "Why does the circuit behind Etecsa in the Cardozo neighborhood never go off?" asked one internet user. "There is never any power here, with or without disconnection. It's shameful," declared another. In areas like Holguín, Villa Clara, and Santiago, numerous users reported outages of up to 20 hours, even before the reported event.
A phrase encapsulates the discouragement that prevails in much of the country: “It’s torture living in Cuba… a constant assault on the people, a mockery.” The feeling of helplessness and abandonment permeates most messages. “We, those from the municipalities, never have electricity; everything goes bad, and nobody cares.” There was even someone who joked about the cycle of collapses: “This is like the trailer. When Melissa arrives, the first pole she knocks down… goodbye.”
The UNE later reported that the system had been restored and was operating "stably and fully", although many Cubans received the announcement with skepticism. "They promise stability, but at home we are already celebrating the light with caution... because we know it will go out again," wrote a user.
The incident coincided with a generation deficit of 1,818 MW, compared to a national demand of 2,526 MW, and an availability of only 1,550 MW, according to data released by the company itself. The causes remain the same: fuel shortages, failures in the Felton, Mariel, Renté, and Santa Cruz plants, and over 70 generation units out of service.
With the country on the brink of an energy collapse, lacking real answers or recovery plans in sight, frustration becomes the true central character of this story: a nation in the dark, not only due to the lack of electricity but also because of the opacity of those who manage—or neglect—the system that should support it.
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