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The Electric Company of Holguín province reported this Friday that blackouts are returning due to a generation deficit, with expected impacts of 50 megawatts (MW) between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., divided into two blocks of two hours each.
The announcement via the page on Facebook from the entity sparked a wave of criticism among users, many of whom claim they still do not have electricity since the passage of Hurricane Melissa over a week ago.
On social media, residents of Cacocum, Holguín, and Yareyal, among others, reported that they have been without electricity for 10 to 11 days, and they questioned the lack of accurate information about the affected circuits.
“Seriously, and what is the reason for that issue? If half of Cacocum has been without electricity for 10 days,” wrote a user.
Others claimed that the crews have not checked the fallen poles or reconnected damaged cables, while some pointed out that support brigades from other provinces have passed through the area without directly intervening in the circuits that are still out of service.
The official statement urged the public for "understanding" and assured that efforts are being made "continuously to minimize the impact and ensure the stability of service in the circuits where it has not yet been restored," following the effects of the weather event.
However, citizen discontent grew due to the lack of details. "We need them to publish the update on the blocks and circuits again, as requested by the president himself, with clear and precise information," demanded a resident identified as Walter Cuenca Pérez.
Other comments reflected social exhaustion after days of blackouts, garbage accumulation, and a proliferation of mosquitoes.
With the chikungunya epidemic and the blackouts, this is a total disaster,” wrote a user. “It was supposed that the eastern region would have electrical stability until full recovery, but we are back to the same old situation,” added another internet user.
According to provincial reports, the electrical system in Holguín has not yet been fully restored.
By Wednesday, out of 203 circuits damaged by Melissa, only 94 had been reconnected, equivalent to 56.7% of the total customers.
This is now compounded by the national generation deficit, which forces the implementation of scheduled blackouts even in areas where service had been partially restored.
Meanwhile, users demand transparency and prioritization for the communities that remain in the dark.
As a neighbor wrote ironically in response to the announcement: "First, let them return our electricity, and then they can take it away due to shortages, but at least we should have the right to lose it."
As electricity service begins to be restored in the eastern part of the country following the impact of Melissa, the rest of Cuba is facing a worsening energy situation, with increasingly prolonged outages and a generation deficit that exceeds 1,400 MW again today.
The situation is worsened by the exit of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant from the National Electric System this Friday, located in Matanzas and regarded as the most important in the country.
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