Cuba Total Power Failure Prompts Embassy Security Alert for U.S. Citizens

CUBA — Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed on July 6, producing a total power failure across the country that began at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, the U.S. Embassy in Havana stated in its security alert.

The U.S. Embassy alert stated that Cuban state media reported the reason for the collapse and any timeline for restoring power remained unknown at the time the alert was issued.

Cellphone and internet outages were reported in connection with the power loss. The embassy directed all U.S. citizens in Cuba or planning travel to the country to remain aware of the situation and to adjust their plans as needed.

The embassy alert added that Cuba’s electrical grid has shown increasing instability. Seven nationwide power outages have occurred in the past 18 months.

The electrical system continues to face vulnerabilities, with regular outages taking place more frequently and lasting longer than before. Scheduled power cuts occur daily in various areas, while unscheduled outages persist throughout the country.

Glossary Index

• MW (megawatts): Unit of electrical power. It measures how much electricity a plant can produce or how much demand exists at one moment.

• MWh (megawatt-hours): Unit of electrical energy. It measures the total amount of electricity generated or used over time (one megawatt running for one hour).

• Nota informativa: Official bulletin or information statement released by Cuba’s state electric company (Unión Eléctrica).

• Sistema Electroenergético Nacional (SEN): Cuba’s national electric power grid and generation system.

• Termoeléctrica: Thermal power plant. A facility that burns fossil fuels (oil, gas, or coal) to produce steam that drives turbines and generates electricity.

• Microsystems: Small, localized power networks created during recovery to supply only the most essential services (hospitals, water pumping stations, etc.) while the main grid is being restored.

• Distributed generation plants: Smaller power plants scattered across many locations instead of one large central facility. They are easier to repair individually but can be affected by fuel shortages.

• Patanas: Floating power plants mounted on barges. Cuba uses these mobile units to add temporary generation capacity in coastal areas.

Power Failure Onset and Initial Impact

The power failure began at midday Eastern Time and affected the entire island. Disruptions to communications networks accompanied the loss of electricity.

The embassy alert directed U.S. citizens to review daily updates from the Unión Eléctrica and its social media accounts, monitor local media, maintain contact with family and friends, keep mobile phones and portable power banks charged, prepare flashlights and spare batteries in accessible locations, stock nonperishable food and water, and arrange alternative methods for meeting medical needs such as power-dependent devices or refrigerated medicines.

The Unión Eléctrica stated a total disconnection of the national electric system (Sistema Electroenergético Nacional) at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time on July 6.

The company stated that the national electric service had already been affected for the full previous 24 hours, including overnight, due to insufficient generation capacity. The maximum affectation reached 2,083 megawatts (MW, a measure of electrical power) at 10:30 p.m. the prior evening, impacting all provinces.

For July 6 the company had estimated an affectation of 2,195 MW before the full system disconnection occurred according to the July 6 official bulletin (nota informativa) from the Unión Eléctrica. Technicians began work to restore service following the total collapse.

The July 6 official bulletin from the Unión Eléctrica listed multiple thermal generation units (termoeléctricas) in breakdown. These included:

• Units 6 and 8 at the Termoeléctrica Máximo Gómez thermal power plant in the Mariel Special Zone

• Unit 1 at the Termoeléctrica Ernesto Guevara De La Serna thermal power plant in Santa Cruz

• the unit at the Termoeléctrica Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant in Matanzas

• Unit 6 at the Termoeléctrica Diez de Octubre thermal power plant in Nuevitas

• Unit 2 at the Termoeléctrica Lidio Ramón Pérez thermal power plant in Felton

Additional units were in maintenance. These included:

• Unit 5 at Termoeléctrica Máximo Gómez

• Unit 3 at Termoeléctrica Ernesto Guevara De La Serna

• Units 5 and 6 at Termoeléctrica Antonio Maceo in Renté

• Unit 5 at Termoeléctrica Diez de Octubre

One hundred six distributed generation plants, smaller power facilities spread across different regions, were out of service due to fuel unavailability, along with the Patana de Regla, Patana de Melones, Central Fuel de Mariel, and Central Fuel de Moa floating power plants (patanas).

The 54 solar photovoltaic parks generated 4,240 megawatt-hours (MWh, a measure of electrical energy produced over time) the previous day with a maximum power of 792 MW according to the July 6 official bulletin from the Unión Eléctrica.

The Unión Eléctrica is applying protocols for the gradual recovery of the national system, prioritizing the creation of microsystems, or localized power networks for essential services, to supply energy to critical facilities, hospitals, and aqueducts.

Partial recovery efforts began in some areas on July 6 according to Cuban state media reports citing the electric company.

In Villa Clara province, the Hanabanilla hydroelectric plant was activated under strict regulations, restoring service to all hospitals in Santa Clara and water pumping at the Palmarito station by midday.

In La Habana, the Empresa Eléctrica de La Habana reported the start of gradual restoration of service, including reestablishment of three essential service islands for vital operations.

Pattern of Grid Instability and Pre-Collapse Deficits

Cuba has recorded seven nationwide power outages over the preceding 18 months. This record shows a pattern of repeated, island-wide disruptions.

The electrical system has grown more vulnerable, with outages occurring more often and extending for longer periods. Daily scheduled cuts affect different areas on a rotating basis, and unscheduled losses of power continue without advance notice across the country.

The July 6 total disconnection followed a day in which generation shortfalls already limited service nationwide.

The operating authority attributed the pre-collapse shortfalls directly to lack of generation capacity from the listed thermal units in breakdown or maintenance and fuel unavailability for distributed plants. Recovery protocols now emphasize phased reestablishment through microsystems focused on essential infrastructure.

What to Watch

• Updates from the Unión Eléctrica on any partial or full restoration timeline will serve as the primary indicator of progress. Reports on the recovery of cellphone and internet services will show when communications normalize.

• Additional guidance from the U.S. Embassy or other official U.S. government channels may clarify implications for citizens. Effects on hospitals, transportation, banking, and other essential services warrant attention if they appear in official updates.

• The Unión Eléctrica website and its social media accounts remain the direct channels for generation and recovery data. Provincial electric company reports on specific restoration in areas such as La Habana and Villa Clara provide localized indicators of progress.

• Continued application of microsystem protocols for hospitals and aqueducts offers a measurable signal of priority recovery sequencing.

Official Statements

• U.S. Embassy Havana, July 6, 2026: “As of 12 p.m. EST, Cuba experienced a total power failure due to a collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid. According to Cuban regime media, the reason for the collapse and the timeline to restore power is unknown. All U.S. citizens in Cuba or planning to travel to Cuba should be aware and plan accordingly. There are reports of cellphone and internet outages. Cuba’s electrical grid is increasingly unstable and there have been seven nationwide power outages in the past 18 months. The electrical system remains vulnerable and additional regular outages have been occurring more frequently and for longer periods. Scheduled power cuts occur daily, and unscheduled outages persist throughout Cuba.”

• TravelGov advisory, July 6: “Cuba: As of 12 p.m. ET, Cuba experienced a total power failure due to a collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid. According to Cuban regime media, the reason for the collapse and the timeline to restore power is unknown. All U.S. citizens in Cuba or planning to travel to Cuba should be aware and plan accordingly. There are reports of cellphone and internet outages.”

• Unión Eléctrica, July 6, 2026: “En el día de ayer el servicio eléctrico estuvo afectado durante las 24 horas, incluyendo la madrugada, por falta de capacidad de generación. La mayor afectación fue de 2083 MW a las 22:30 de la noche, con impacto en todas las provincias del país. Para hoy se estima una afectación de 2195 MW.” (translated from Spanish) The nota informativa further detailed units in breakdown including Units 6 and 8 of Termoeléctrica Máximo Gómez, Unit 1 of Termoeléctrica Ernesto Guevara De La Serna, the unit at Termoeléctrica Antonio Guiteras, Unit 6 of Termoeléctrica Diez de Octubre, and Unit 2 of Termoeléctrica Lidio Ramón Pérez in Felton. Units in maintenance included Unit 5 of Termoeléctrica Máximo Gómez, Unit 3 of Termoeléctrica Ernesto Guevara De La Serna, Units 5 and 6 of Termoeléctrica Antonio Maceo in Renté, and Unit 5 of Termoeléctrica Diez de Octubre. One hundred six distributed generation plants were out due to fuel unavailability, along with the Patana de Regla, Patana de Melones, Central Fuel de Mariel, and Central Fuel de Moa. The 54 solar photovoltaic parks generated 4,240 MWh the previous day with maximum power of 792 MW. Peak forecast showed availability of 935 MW against demand of 3,100 MW, for a deficit of 2,165 MW and predicted affectation of 2,195 MW. The Unión Eléctrica also reported a total disconnection of the Sistema Electroenergético Nacional on July 6 and stated that technicians were working to restore the system while causes were under investigation. The entity is applying protocols for gradual recovery of the SEN, prioritizing microsystems for vital centers, hospitals, and aqueducts.