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A Cuban identified as Giselle Rodriguez posted on Facebook a message that encapsulates the frustration of millions of Cubans regarding the blackouts of up to 20 hours a day that are affecting the Island amid the worst energy crisis in its recent history.
"20 hours in the dark, under a heat that suffocates the body and tests the mind. It’s not just the lack of electricity; it’s the lack of respect for the most basic life," wrote Rodriguez, whose words summarize a reality that the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel has been unable to resolve."
"Living by counting the minutes of respite that a fan gives us is not living. It is a silent weariness, a daily torture that drains the strength, patience, and dreams of anyone," she added.
The woman points out that although the heat is harsh, what hurts the most is the incompetence of those in charge. She emphasizes that the people have the right to rest, to work, and to live without their days turning into an endless struggle for survival.
"There are limits that human resilience should not have to cross. One cannot live in an eternal blackout. Enough of such indolence!" he emphasized.
The author directly addresses the government: "No one, absolutely no one, has the right to decide that we must live in misery and exhaustion just because they either do not know or do not want to solve the fundamental problems of a country."
Rodriguez warns about the deeper danger of this situation: "The most dangerous aspect of this crisis is not just the 20-hour blackouts; it's that they expect us to normalize it."
His message concludes with a statement that encapsulates the mood of a weary society: "Abuse feeds on silence and habit. But fatigue has surpassed patience. We will not become accustomed to darkness, because we were born to live with light, with dignity, and in peace. Enough of normalizing what is, by human rights, unacceptable!"
The numbers support their complaint. This Friday, the Electric Union (UNE) reported only 970 MW available against a demand of 2,650 MW, leaving 1,650 MW uncovered. On Thursday, the projected impact exceeded 2,000 MW.
The crisis is not temporary: between 10 and 11 thermoelectric units remain out of service, nearly 60% of the country's generating capacity. The Antonio Guiteras power plant, the largest in Cuba, has recorded 11 shutdowns so far this year, including five in just five weeks.
The human impact is brutal.
In Matanzas, residents reported outages lasting more than 72 hours, and in some circuits, up to 85 consecutive hours without service. In Santiago de Cuba, the local electric company admitted that it cannot guarantee even two hours of power a day in some areas. In Havana, entire neighborhoods report outages of 20 to 24 hours daily.
All of this happens with temperatures ranging from 24°C to 31°C and high humidity, making nighttime rest unbearable. Entire families have begun to sleep in tents on Guanabo beach to escape the heat inside their own homes.
The lack of electricity also disrupts the water supply, food preservation, the functioning of schools, and access to the Internet. The telecommunications company ETECSA admitted that the blackouts are leaving phone services unavailable.
The frustration has overflowed onto social media and spilled into the streets. Between Thursday and this Friday, there were protests and banging of pots and pans in Havana neighborhoods, along with street blockades.
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