The government of Villa Clara province has informed its population that they will only have three hours of electricity for every eight hours without power. This measure comes as a result of the worsening energy crisis currently afflicting Cuba.
The announcement was made via the official Facebook page of the Provincial Government, based on an analysis conducted by the authorities of the Communist Party in the region. They claim to have taken into account "the suggestions of the people, expressed mostly through social media."
"It was decided that starting at 1 AM on Monday, May 20, all circuits will rotate in 16 groups," the note stated. This means residents will experience up to 8 hours of power outage followed by just 3 hours of electricity. For instance, "if the power goes out at 1 AM, I will have 8 hours without electricity and only 3 hours with it," the statement explained.
The public's reactions to the announcement were swift and critical.
"I ask: Are you going to close workplaces and schools? Because no one who is up all night without power will be able to go to work or send their kids to school the next day. Plus, they need to use the hours with electricity to do household chores. Honestly, this measure will only create more problems," commented one user.
"In my humble opinion, we are regressing every day. The 'Special Period' seems trivial compared to this. A series of poorly made decisions are harming the people," another user expressed.
"This is disrespectful and abusive. The people are already suffering, and now they can't even sleep. There are no words for the level of shamelessness," added another.
The severe energy crisis has forced the government in this province to adjust school schedules to two hours of classes in the morning and two in the afternoon. The authorities stated that "in the early hours of the morning, recreational and complementary activities will be held until the first class period begins, extending until the usual end time."
By mid-May, Cubans are horrified to realize that the "fuel situation and blackouts" have evolved into what the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel describes as "an extremely complex energy issue."
With temperatures in Cuba reaching record highs of 40 degrees Celsius in May, the National Electric Union (UNE) indicated on May 8 that blackouts would increase in June due to maintenance work on several Thermal Power Plants (CTE).
Understanding the Energy Crisis in Villa Clara
The energy crisis in Villa Clara has left many residents with questions. Here are some answers to common inquiries:
What is causing the prolonged power outages in Villa Clara?
The prolonged power outages are a result of a severe energy crisis exacerbated by maintenance work on several thermal power plants and the overall lack of resources in Cuba.
How are the residents of Villa Clara coping with the power outages?
Residents are struggling to manage their daily activities, with many expressing frustration and concern over their ability to work, send their children to school, and perform household chores during the limited hours of electricity.