Electricity gradually returns to Cuba after millions left in the dark

ABC News - Mar 16th, 2025
Open on ABC News

Electricity service in Cuba was gradually restored on Sunday, over 36 hours after a substation failure plunged the entire island into darkness. Union Electrica, the state agency in charge of the electric grid, reported that power was back in most of Havana and eastern regions, with the western areas expected to follow. This massive blackout, which began on Friday night, marks the fourth occurrence in six months, exacerbating the struggles of a nation already grappling with a severe economic crisis. The Ministry of Energy and Mines identified the issue as a failure at a substation in Havana's suburbs, affecting phone, internet, and water services, and leaving many families unable to cook due to reliance on electric appliances.

The outages highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Cuba, rooted in fuel shortages, aging infrastructure, and economic strain. Analysts attribute the crisis to the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation-inducing domestic policies, and tighter U.S. sanctions. Most of Cuba's power plants have been operational for over 30 years, prompting the government to contract floating power plants from Turkey and pledge the development of solar parks by 2025. These electricity disruptions underscore the pressing need for modernization within Cuba's energy sector, as the government seeks solutions amid a backdrop of economic hardship and geopolitical tension.

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RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The news story provides a timely and relevant account of the power outage in Cuba, effectively communicating the immediate impacts and broader economic context. It scores well on accuracy and timeliness, with factual claims generally supported by external sources. However, the story's reliance on government sources and lack of diverse perspectives limit its balance and source quality. The article is clear and readable, but it could benefit from more detailed explanations and transparency regarding its sources. While the topic is of high public interest, the potential for impact and engagement is constrained by the limited depth of analysis. Overall, the story offers a solid overview of the situation but could be enhanced by incorporating independent viewpoints and more comprehensive coverage of the underlying issues.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story accurately reports the main events of the power outage in Cuba, including the timeline and the areas affected. The claim that the outage was due to a substation failure in Havana is consistent with external sources. However, the article could benefit from more precise details about the specific substation and the nature of the failure. The report correctly notes the impact on services such as phone, internet, and water, which aligns with independent accounts. The mention of previous blackouts and the ongoing economic crisis is also accurate, but the story could have been more precise in detailing the specific domestic measures contributing to inflation. Overall, the factual claims are largely supported by external reports, but some areas, like the specifics of the infrastructure issues, could use further verification.

6
Balance

The article provides a reasonably balanced view of the situation in Cuba, acknowledging both the technical failures and the broader economic context. However, it primarily presents the perspective of the Cuban government and lacks input from independent experts or opposition voices that could provide alternative explanations or critiques of the government's handling of the crisis. The story mentions the U.S. sanctions as a factor in the economic crisis but does not explore this in depth or consider other international perspectives. Including a wider range of viewpoints would enhance the story's balance.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and concise, effectively communicating the main events and impacts of the power outage. The structure is logical, with a straightforward progression from the immediate effects of the blackout to the broader economic context. However, some sections could be more detailed, such as the explanation of the economic crisis and the specific measures contributing to it. The language is neutral, but the lack of depth in certain areas may leave readers with unanswered questions.

5
Source quality

The article relies heavily on information from Union Electrica and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, which are official Cuban government sources. While these are authoritative sources for the technical details of the power outage, the lack of independent verification or commentary from external experts limits the depth of analysis. The story does not cite any third-party analysts or reports, which could provide a more comprehensive view of the situation. The reliance on government sources may affect the impartiality of the reporting.

4
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of disclosing the sources of its information and the methodology behind its claims. While it mentions the government agencies involved, it does not provide direct quotes or detailed attributions. There is no discussion of potential conflicts of interest or biases in the government sources used. The story would benefit from clearer explanations of how the information was gathered and any limitations or uncertainties in the data presented.

Sources

  1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cuba-widespread-power-outage-millions-in-the-dark/
  2. https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/03/16/electricity-gradually-returns-to-cuba-after-substation-failure-left-millions-in-the-dark/
  3. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/electric-grid-failure-in-cuba-leaves-millions-without-power-for-4th-time-in-6-months
  4. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/electricity-gradually-returns-cuba-after-substation-failure-left-119855050
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024%E2%80%932025_Cuba_blackouts