The Electric Union (UNE) reported on Thursday night that the connection of the eastern region of Cuba with the National Electric System (SEN) has been restored, after a disruption that left five provinces without electricity.
"The disconnection that occurred in the eastern part of the country, encompassing the provinces between Holguín and Guantánamo, has been restored," reported the UNE on its social media.
The announcement, however, did not mean that electricity would immediately return to all consumers. In the comments on the post itself, numerous Cubans stated that they remained in the dark or that the service had only returned for a few minutes.
"They've restored it already and now they've taken it away from me," wrote one person. Another user questioned, "Can you explain what you mean by the restored system if no one here has power?"
The disturbance had left Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo disconnected, amid a day also marked by a significant generation deficit.
The incident prompted the simultaneous shutdown of three thermoelectric units. One of them was Unit 1 of the CTE Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton), which was already online at the time this information was reported, according to the report from UNE.
In addition, unit 6 of the CTE Diez de Octubre and unit 6 of the CTE Antonio Maceo went out of service
The Electric Company of Granma described the incident as "a partial disconnection in the National Electroenergetic System," caused by "the unexpected shutdown of the Lidio Ramón Pérez Thermoelectric Power Plant (Felton) and the repeated fluctuations that followed," ultimately affecting "the entire eastern region."
The Provincial Cargo Office then began maneuvers to reconnect the territory with the SEN, prioritizing the supply to centers deemed essential.
Restoring the connection with the SEN does not mean that the power has been restored
The difference is crucial amidst the current energy crisis: reconnecting the eastern provinces to the National Electric System does not mean that all households will immediately regain service.
This Thursday, the system had only 1,170 MW of availability, compared to a projected demand of 3,200 MW. For peak hours, UNE forecasted a deficit of 2,030 MW, enough to keep extensive areas of the country in darkness even after the regional disconnection was resolved.
This is why the official announcement sparked numerous complaints.
"And when will Havana get power, circuit A 980, more than 50 hours without electricity. Until when?" another user complained.
The episode adds to an energy crisis that particularly affects eastern Cuba, where prolonged blackouts are part of daily life.
Felton, once again at the center of the disturbance
The Lidio Ramón Pérez thermoelectric power plant in Felton, Mayarí, Holguín, has been involved in several of the major disturbances recorded in 2026.
In July, the shutdown of unit 1 was linked to a complete collapse of the SEN, after causing fluctuations that ultimately spread throughout the system.
In February, another breakdown related to Felton and the Renté thermoelectric plant left the eastern region without electricity.
The technical situation of the plant remains precarious. On August 23, it was reported that unit 1 had a crack and over a hundred anomalies detected during the repair work.
Unit 2 also was taken out of service due to a malfunction on August 12, exacerbating the generation issues.
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