Cuba has been plunged into darkness due to widespread power outages caused by the fierce winds and downpours from Hurricane Rafael. These conditions led to the disconnection of the national power grid, prompting authorities to deploy microgrid systems in several provinces to address the crisis.
Reports on social media, particularly on Facebook, indicate that Villa Clara and Santiago de Cuba are already implementing these emergency protocols to stabilize their power networks. The "Soy Villa Clara" page noted, "Efforts are underway to establish a microgrid in our province. We need your cooperation to energize the lines when service is restored and to prevent destabilization from potential overloads."
The Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba informed its customers that work is ongoing to restore service via distributed generation microgrids. Priority will be given to areas hosting essential services for the population, according to the company's announcement.
In Matanzas, officials are awaiting the passage of Rafael and conducting necessary inspections to set up microgrids aimed at powering thermal plants and rebuilding the network.
Although reports from other provinces have yet to surface, the entire western region of the island is threatened by the atmospheric phenomenon. Hurricane Rafael made landfall in the province of Artemisa on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 3 storm, with destructive winds reaching 115 mph (185 km/h).
Lessons Learned from Past Outages
Last October, the regime employed a similar strategy following the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN), dividing the power supply into independent regional systems. Provincial electric companies have issued guidance advising residents to unplug appliances and gradually reconnect them once power is restored to prevent damage from potential voltage fluctuations.
At the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, protocols were activated to cool and protect the turbine, safeguarding it from structural damage. Additionally, there are plans for the Felton Thermoelectric Plant to resume operations by Friday, provided it receives the necessary power and maintenance work is completed.
The company continues to monitor the situation closely and is working diligently to restore stability to the SEN as swiftly as possible.