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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 3, 2026Miami-Dade

Cuba experiences sixth national power grid collapse of the year

Cuba's national electrical system suffered its sixth total collapse of the year, leaving the entire island without power following a substation failure in Havana. While priority services like hospitals have begun to see power restoration, many regions remain without electricity as the country struggles with aging infrastructure and fuel shortages.

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Why It Matters

The recurring power failures impact the daily lives of all Cuban residents, causing prolonged outages that often exceed 20 hours per day and forcing citizens to cope with extreme heat without cooling.

Key Facts

  • This event marks the sixth total national power grid collapse in Cuba during 2024.
  • The collapse was triggered by a substation failure in Havana that caused a network oscillation and the shutdown of the Felton thermoelectric plant.
  • Priority circuits, including hospitals and food production workshops, are being restored first.
  • Eastern provinces are expected to have service restored later than the western regions.
  • A separate partial collapse occurred on Saturday due to weather-related damage to a 220-megawatt line.
  • The country has experienced two national collapses in March and three in July, plus partial outages.
  • Residents frequently face rolling blackouts that can last over 20 hours per day.
  • The heat index reached 41 degrees Celsius on Sunday with 80% humidity.
  • The government attributes the instability to aging infrastructure and the impact of U.S. oil sanctions.

Who's Mentioned

locationFelton“Thermoelectric plant in Holguín province that went offline.”personFélix Estrada Rodríguez“Director of the National Load Dispatch for Unión Eléctrica.”personAlexey Ríos García“Resident of Havana.”organizationUnión Eléctrica“State-owned entity responsible for Cuba's electrical grid.”personElaine Delis Ramos“Resident of Havana.”