Cuban Outrage and Distrust: Public Reaction to Fourth National Power Grid Collapse in Six Months

The latest widespread blackout in Cuba this past Friday has sparked a wave of outrage and frustration among citizens, who took to social media to express their discontent over the fourth collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) in under half a year. The comments left on the social media pages of the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) highlight the dissatisfaction with the state-owned company's ineffective solutions, official misinformation, and the precarious state of the island's energy infrastructure.

For many, the complete failure of the SEN is indicative of the lack of control over the electrical infrastructure. "It's illogical for the entire system to disconnect due to one substation; when that happens, it shows a lack of control," one user commented, criticizing the absence of protocols to prevent these kinds of collapses. Another compared the system to "a house of cards," where a single failure leads to a total blackout.

Public skepticism regarding official explanations is another common theme in the citizens' reactions. Some believe that the SEN's collapse is a sign of negligence and lack of investment in the sector. "At any moment, the people themselves will light up the streets," one user warned in protest. Others suggest that the situation is either deliberate or the result of a structural problem that the government refuses to acknowledge.

Resignation is also palpable among Cubans, who have grown accustomed to frequent mass outages. "This no longer has an explanation, precedent, or justification," lamented one user, while another asked, "What future do we have, those of us who will die here?"

Social inequality is another common thread in the comments. "Those with money and family abroad have generators," a citizen pointed out, highlighting how blackouts primarily affect ordinary Cubans. Others noted that while much of the country remains without power, privileged areas like hotels and businesses of high-ranking officials continue to operate normally.

Despite UNE's attempts to reassure the public and promise that recovery efforts are underway, the population continues to demand concrete answers and permanent solutions. "How long will your inefficiency keep impacting the people?" one user questioned, reflecting the collective frustration over the lack of prospects for overcoming the energy crisis on the island.

Ten comments reflecting the feelings of the Cuban people:

1. "At any moment, the people themselves will light up the streets."
2. "It's illogical for the entire system to disconnect due to one substation; when that happens, it shows a lack of control."
3. "There are no more words; the people were already announcing it."
4. "The SEN and a house of cards are the same story; if one card falls, the whole tower does."
5. "What future do we have, those of us who will die here?"
6. "Those with money and family abroad have generators, etc., etc."
7. "Why do all breakdowns in Havana cause a disconnection of the National Electric System?"
8. "This no longer has an explanation, precedent, or justification."
9. "What has fallen here is shame; it's already at the bottom of the well..."
10. "This country has been disconnected from reality for a few years now."