If you’ve spent any time scrolling through social media or checking international headlines lately, you know the situation with electricidad en Cuba hoy is, frankly, a mess. It isn’t just about the occasional flicker or a short blackout while you’re making dinner. We are talking about a systemic, grinding collapse that has left millions in the dark for hours—sometimes days—at a time. It’s a reality where the hum of a refrigerator is a luxury and the silence of a dead fan in 90-degree heat is the norm.
The grid is tired.
Honestly, calling it a "grid" feels like a bit of a stretch some days. Most of the thermoelectric plants, like the massive Antonio Guiteras in Matanzas or the Felton in Holguín, are decades past their expiration dates. They were built with Soviet technology that hasn't seen a proper, deep-cleaning overhaul since the Berlin Wall was still standing. When one piece of rusted tubing pops at Guiteras, the whole country holds its breath. You’ve likely heard about the "deficit of generation capacity." That’s just the official way of saying the power plants can’t make enough juice to keep the lights on for everyone at once.
The Brutal Reality of the Rotación de Apagones
The government tries to manage this through something called "programación de apagones," or scheduled blackouts. But if you talk to anyone in Pinar del Río or Sancti Spíritus, they’ll tell you the schedule is mostly a suggestion. Sometimes the power goes out at 10:00 AM and doesn't come back until 6:00 PM. Then it’s back for two hours—just long enough to charge a phone and maybe cook some rice—before plunging back into darkness.
It is exhausting.
Imagine trying to run a small business, like a paladar (private restaurant), under these conditions. You buy meat, it freezes, the power goes out, it thaws, you pray it doesn't spoil, and then you do it all over again the next day. The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, has been on state television multiple times recently, trying to explain the math. He talks about fuel arrivals and "mantenimiento," but the math rarely adds up for the person sitting in a dark living room in Centro Habana.
The fuel issue is the other side of the coin. Even when the plants are "working," there often isn't enough crude oil or diesel to feed them. Venezuela, Cuba's long-time benefactor, has its own set of massive problems and has drastically cut back on shipments. Russia sends a tanker every now and then, and Mexico has stepped in with some help, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the constant thirst of these aging machines.
Why Solar and "Patrias o Muerte" Aren't Saving the Day Yet
There is a lot of talk about renewable energy. The Cuban government has announced ambitious plans to install thousands of megawatts of solar power by 2030. You might see photos of new solar farms being bolted into the ground in places like Cienfuegos. It sounds great on paper. In reality, the transition is moving at a snail's pace because the country is broke.
Investors are wary. Sanctions make things complicated.
But there’s a smaller, more interesting shift happening at the grassroots level. Because the state can’t provide reliable electricidad en Cuba hoy, those who can afford it are taking matters into their own hands. If you walk through the streets of Miramar or certain parts of Vedado, you’ll start to see solar panels popping up on private rooftops. Small businesses are importing lithium batteries and inverters through companies like Katapulk or through family members in Miami.
It’s creating a massive energy divide.
The Rise of the Turkish Power Ships
One of the weirdest sights in Havana harbor or near Mariel is the presence of massive Turkish "powerships" owned by the company Karadeniz Holding. These are basically floating power plants that plug directly into the island’s grid. They’ve been a literal lifeline. Without them, the capital would likely be in total darkness. But these ships aren't free. They charge a premium, and they require fuel that Cuba struggles to pay for. It’s a temporary band-aid on a gushing wound.
People are getting creative, though. You see "inventos" everywhere.
- Battery-powered LED strips taped to the ceiling.
- Fans modified to run off 12V car batteries.
- Hand-cranked radios making a comeback.
The Economic Domino Effect
When the power goes out, everything else stops. Water pumps in many buildings run on electricity. No power means no water. The internet—the few towers that have backup batteries—eventually dies out after a few hours of a blackout. This isolation is perhaps the hardest part. You’re hot, you’re thirsty, and you can’t even call your cousin to see if their neighborhood has light.
The government blames the U.S. embargo (the bloqueo) for the inability to buy spare parts and fuel. The U.S. points to internal mismanagement and a refusal to modernize the economy. Somewhere in the middle of that geopolitical shouting match is a family in Camagüey trying to sleep in 30°C heat without a fan.
It’s important to understand that the "energy crisis" isn't a single event. It's a chronic condition. There are moments of "synchronization" where the national electric system (SEN) actually holds together for a few days, and people start to feel hopeful. Then, a boiler leaks or a storm rolls through, and the whole house of cards collapses again.
🔗 Read more: The 1900 Galveston Hurricane: What Really Happened When the Island Disappeared
What Can Actually Be Done?
If you are traveling to the island or trying to help family there, you need to be practical. Relying on the state grid for electricidad en Cuba hoy is a gamble you will lose.
- Invest in Portability: For those sending help, the focus has shifted from clothes and food to energy. Small, portable solar chargers for phones are the bare minimum.
- The Inverter Revolution: High-quality power inverters (1000W to 3000W) combined with deep-cycle or lithium batteries are the gold standard for survival in the private sector.
- Rechargeable Everything: Fans that have built-in batteries and LED lights are the most requested items in "gusanos" (duffel bags) coming from overseas.
- Offline Prep: If you’re a traveler, download every map, every translation file, and every piece of entertainment before you land. Assume you will have zero connectivity for 8-12 hours a day.
The situation with electricity in Cuba is a reflection of a much larger struggle for modernization. There is no quick fix. Even if the embargo ended tomorrow, the physical infrastructure of the plants would still take years and billions of dollars to rebuild. For now, the island survives on a mix of Turkish ships, aging Soviet boilers, and the sheer ingenuity of a population that has learned how to live in the shadows.
The next time you see a headline about a "total collapse" of the Cuban grid, remember that for the people living there, the collapse happened a long time ago. They are just trying to find a way to keep the lights on for one more night.
Actionable Next Steps for Dealing with the Energy Crisis:
If you are managing a home or business in Cuba, or supporting one from abroad, prioritize energy autonomy over any other investment. Focus on acquiring hybrid inverters that can take a charge from the grid when it's up and switch to battery power seamlessly when it drops. For those in the diaspora, look into shipping LifePo4 batteries; they have a significantly longer lifespan in tropical heat compared to traditional lead-acid batteries. Lastly, keep a strict "blackout protocol" for appliances—unplugging sensitive electronics like refrigerators and AC units when the power goes out to avoid the massive surge that often occurs when the "luz" finally returns, which is a leading cause of appliance failure on the island.