In the midst of an energy crisis, with power outages exceeding 12 to 16 hours daily in several provinces, authorities in Baracoa announced that citizens must request state authorization to install solar panels in their homes.
The guidance was disseminated by Primada Visión, the municipal television center, where the director of the Territorial and Urban Planning Department in Baracoa, Yean Tomasén Frómeta, explained that it is a measure to regulate the increasing use of these systems.
"We are informing the population about the changes in energy matters that are currently being implemented," stated the official, referring to the process that individuals must follow when installing photovoltaic panels.
According to the details provided, interested parties must visit the entity from Monday to Thursday to formalize their application. “This is a measure we are implementing from a legal standpoint to ensure legality,” he emphasized.
Tomasén Frómeta insisted that the installation of these devices requires prior authorization, as it is considered a "minor construction action" outside the homes.
For his part, José Carlos Oliveros Martínez, head of the department in the same entity, outlined the requirements for the procedure. “Individuals must bring a photocopy of the property title,” he explained, adding that in some cases a technical assessment will be necessary “due to the structural condition of the dwelling, to determine whether it can withstand or not.”
The official assured that the process "will be completed in fifteen days," following the implementation of new regulations.
Meanwhile, in practice, more and more Cubans are seeking their own alternatives in the face of the collapse of the national electric power system, betting on solar energy to support basic appliances such as refrigerators or televisions.
However, access to these systems is far from widespread. A photovoltaic module of 800 watts promoted by the Electric Union costs over 75,000 Cuban pesos, which is equivalent to more than 20 monthly salaries of an average state worker.
In this context, the requirement for permits, documents, and technical validations adds a new obstacle for those trying to secure something as basic as access to electricity.
Moreover, the measure highlights an increasingly visible contradiction: while the state itself promotes solar energy as an alternative in light of the crisis, it also imposes bureaucratic control over its installation, in a country where having one's own electricity depends not only on money... but also on official authorization.
The demand contrasts with the measures that the Cuban government itself has recently promoted to encourage the use of solar energy. The regime exempts the import of solar panels from customs duties and offers up to eight years of tax exemption for those who invest in this type of technology.
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