As July begins, the Electric Company of Matanzas has released its schedule for planned power outages on social media, indicating that residents will face significant disruptions during the peak summer months. The electric grid in the province is divided into four "blocks," with two of them experiencing total outages that will sum up to 15 days without power (360 hours), while the other two will face 16 days without electricity (384 hours).
An official journalist, José Miguel Solís, shared the information on social media, illuminating a grim reality for Matanzas residents: they will spend half of July in the dark.
Promises vs. Reality
In early May, the Union Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE) had promised to complete maintenance by the end of June to minimize disruptions during the summer, considered the "rest months" for the population. However, they warned that outages would still occur in July and August if unexpected generation unit failures happened. Now, with the planned "block" outages, it’s clear that UNE’s promises hold as much weight as those of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
In late May, Díaz-Canel stated, "We will have extended maintenance until June to try to minimize the inconvenience of outages in the summer, especially in July and August." Meanwhile, UNE Director Alfredo López Valdés attempted to paint a hopeful picture by stating, "We are aware that we are causing significant outages, but there is a trend towards improvement."
Despite no maintenance being planned for any thermoelectric plants in July, López Valdés acknowledged that normal system breakdowns and limitations would still occur. "All stations will be operational in July and August, except for unforeseen breakdowns," Díaz-Canel promised. He had admitted to Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet on May 11 that the island was facing a "very complex situation in terms of energy."
Days after these statements, the Electric Company of Matanzas announced via Telegram that they were forced to offer their customers a rotation of two hours of light and six hours of blackout daily, resulting in a total of six hours of service and 18 hours of outages in intervals. Compared to those levels of outages, the July schedule might seem like an "improvement."
July Outage Schedule
The July outage schedule is divided into the following time slots: (00:00-03:00), (03:00-06:00), (06:00-09:00), (09:00-13:00), (13:00-18:00), (18:00-21:00), and (21:00-24:00). All time slots have a uniform distribution of outages, with 45 hours assigned to each slot in each block.
The most affected will be Blocks 3 and 4 (384 hours), covering the following areas:
- Guásimas and oil offices: 384 hours
- Santa Martha to the Amphitheater: 384 hours
- Santa Marta-Center Cabañas del Sol: 384 hours
Blocks 1 and 2 will experience 360 hours of outages and include these areas:
- Cítrico and Agramonte town: 360 hours
- Santa Martha from the Polyclinic to the Laundry and by fast road to Villa Nicaragua: 360 hours
- Agüica-Río Piedra, Colon Industrial, Los Arabos, Batey Monte Alto, Batey Macagua, La paloma, San Pedro, Zorrilla, El 90: 360 hours
Understanding the Impact of Power Outages in Matanzas
Given the severe power outage schedule, here are some commonly asked questions and their answers regarding the situation in Matanzas:
Why are there scheduled power outages in Matanzas?
The Electric Company of Matanzas has scheduled power outages to manage the limited energy resources and perform necessary maintenance on the electrical grid.
How long will the power outages last in Matanzas?
Depending on the block, residents will face between 360 to 384 hours of power outages throughout July.
What areas are most affected by the power outages?
Blocks 3 and 4, including areas such as Guásimas, Santa Martha, and several others, will experience the highest number of outage hours.
What measures are being taken to minimize the impact of power outages?
The Electric Company of Matanzas is attempting to perform necessary maintenance and manage the grid to reduce the frequency and duration of outages, although challenges remain due to system limitations and breakdowns.