CUBA · ENERGY
Key Facts
- —What is happening On Sunday, 25 October, a transmission line tripped and cut the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo off Cuba’s national power grid, leaving both without electricity.
- —Why it matters It is the second time this month the eastern grid has split, and it came while the whole island already faced a generation shortfall of more than 1,700 megawatts.
- —The numbers Nearly 1.4 million people live in the two provinces. UNE forecast 1,120 MW of supply against 2,850 MW of demand; up to 62% of the country could lose power.
- —Who is who Unión Eléctrica (UNE) is the state utility that runs the grid, and the Cueto-Renté line links Holguín province to the Renté power plant in Santiago de Cuba.
- —What to watch Whether power returns fully to both provinces, why the line tripped, and whether the biggest plant, Antonio Guiteras, stays online after tripping on Saturday.
- —Prediction markets Polymarket gives 8% to Miguel Díaz-Canel leaving power as Cuba’s leader by 31 December (26 October, 3:48 a.m. ET).
- —Power Index Cuba ranks 14th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 22.5 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you US families with relatives in Santiago de Cuba or Guantánamo, and travellers heading there, should expect cuts of more than 20 hours a day in some areas.
A line trip cut Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo from the national grid on Sunday. The island already faced a shortfall above 1,700 MW.
The Cuba power grid lost its eastern end on Sunday, 25 October, when a transmission line tripped. Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo provinces were cut off from the national system, the state utility said.
The utility, Unión Eléctrica (UNE), said restoration protocols were activated but gave no time for the return of power. EFE said nearly 1.4 million people live in the two provinces, about one in seven Cubans.
In Plain English
- UNE: the state-owned utility that runs Cuba’s power plants and high-voltage lines.
- National grid: the linked network of plants and lines; a disconnected region runs without it.
- Line trip: a protective switch-off when a high-voltage line develops a fault.
- Megawatt (MW): a unit of power; one large US nuclear reactor makes about 1,000 MW.
What Happened on Sunday
UNE posted its alert at 1:14 p.m. local time, saying the Cueto-Renté line had tripped and disconnected both provinces. Prensa Latina, Cuba’s state news agency, said the line links Cueto in Holguín province with the Renté power plant.
The Santiago de Cuba electric company called it a fault on a 220 kV line, 14ymedio reported. Neither company has given a technical reason for the trip.
Guantánamo’s electric company later said the 110 kV line to Santiago de Cuba was back in service, Directorio Cubano reported. That restored one connection but did not confirm power in every circuit.
By 5:00 p.m., UNE had not reported full restoration in either province, Cubanos por el Mundo said. The Santiago de Cuba electric company said both provinces were without service.
A Grid Already Short of Power
UNE’s daily forecast expected 1,120 MW of supply against 2,850 MW of demand at the evening peak. That meets about four in ten of forecast demand, and UNE projected cuts of up to 1,760 MW.
EFE said the forecast meant up to 62% of the country could be without power at peak. On Saturday, 24 October, the maximum cut reached 1,843 MW, CiberCuba reported.
For a US comparison, 1,760 MW is more than one large nuclear reactor produces, at about 1,000 MW. Cuba has about 9.4 million people, EFE said, similar to New Jersey.
Nine generating units at five thermoelectric plants were offline, 14ymedio reported: five with faults and four in maintenance. Santa Cruz unit 2 (80 MW) and Renté unit 6 (50 MW) were expected back at peak.
The largest unit, Antonio Guiteras in Matanzas, tripped on Saturday after a false reading by its automatic system, 14ymedio reported. It has disconnected at least 23 times this year, the outlet counted.
Thermoelectric plants supply about 40% of Cuba’s electricity, EFE said. The island needs just over 100,000 barrels of oil a day and produces about 40,000.
The East Has Split Before
On Saturday, 10 October, a trip on the 220 kV Nuevitas-Las Tunas line isolated five eastern provinces from the grid. UNE reported the trip at 12:46 p.m. and the eastern reconnection at 3:17 p.m., CiberCuba said, though homes came back gradually.
14ymedio recorded earlier eastern splits on Thursday, 27 August, and Wednesday, 4 February. It counts at least five partial disconnections in 2026, plus eight total blackouts.
The latest total blackout came on Friday, 18 September, after two transmission lines tripped near Matanzas, 14ymedio said. EFE counts eight general and eight partial blackouts this year, a different tally.
What It Means for US Readers
The outage matters to US readers through family ties and policy, because the long-running US embargo on Cuba remains in force. Travellers and families with plans there should expect cuts above 20 hours a day in some areas, EFE said.
Background is in reports on the 10 October eastern split and an explainer on why the grid keeps failing. The 18 September nationwide blackout is also covered.
What Prediction Markets Say
Bettors on Polymarket give 8% to Miguel Díaz-Canel leaving power as Cuba’s leader by 31 December (26 October, 3:48 a.m. ET). That is the midpoint of a 7 cent bid and 9 cent ask on a market that has traded about US$781,000.
The market does not ask about blackouts, so the fit is loose. It shows how traders price Díaz-Canel’s tenure, not any outage.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What Is Not Known
UNE’s own post could not be opened, so its wording comes from outlets that reproduced it. CiberCuba noted the post is stamped 12:32 p.m. while its text says 1:14 p.m., so the exact time is unclear.
No technical cause has been published, and no report up to Monday morning, 26 October, confirms full restoration. EFE’s 1.4 million is the provinces’ population, not a count of people without power, and 62% is a nationwide forecast.
Outlets give 10 October (14ymedio, CiberCuba, ONCuba) and 11 October (EFE) for the earlier eastern split. Only 14ymedio reports the 23 Guiteras trips, the 27 August and 4 February splits and its blackout tally.
What Comes Next
UNE publishes a supply and demand forecast every day. The next reports should show whether Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo are fully back, and whether Antonio Guiteras returns.
This does not mean a nationwide blackout, since two provinces were disconnected. The last total blackout, according to 14ymedio, was on Friday, 18 September.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Cuba’s power grid on 25 October?
A trip on the Cueto-Renté transmission line disconnected Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo from the national grid. UNE said restoration protocols were activated.
How many people lost power?
EFE said nearly 1.4 million people live in the two provinces. Authorities did not say how many lost power.
Why did the line trip?
No cause has been published. The Santiago de Cuba electric company described a fault on a 220 kV line.
Is power back in Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo?
One link, the 110 kV line between the two provinces, was back in service. No outlet had confirmed full restoration at the last report.
How short of electricity is Cuba?
UNE forecast 1,120 MW of supply against 2,850 MW of demand at peak. That is a deficit of about 1,730 MW.
Is this a blackout of all Cuba?
No, two provinces were disconnected. The last total blackout was on 18 September, according to 14ymedio.
Sources: Prensa Latina, 25 October; 14ymedio, 25 October; CiberCuba, 25 October; EFE via Unitel, 25 October; Directorio Cubano, 25 October; Cubanos por el Mundo, 25 October; El Tiempo, 25 October; ONCuba, 25 October (all accessed 26 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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