Residents of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, are experiencing heightened civic discontent as the Provincial Electric Company prioritizes electricity supply to Circuit 119, which houses workers constructing a crucial solar photovoltaic park, while other areas endure prolonged and unpredictable blackouts. This administrative decision, aimed at ensuring basic living conditions for essential personnel, has inadvertently exposed deep-seated inequities in the region's beleaguered power distribution system, sparking public outcry.

The Provincial Electric Company’s director, Roberto Hernández Rojas, justified the prioritization of Circuit 119, which supplies the Los Laureles hotel accommodating workers for the Cabaiguán solar photovoltaic park, citing generator issues at the facility. Hernández stated that consistent power between 5:00 PM and 12:00 AM, and 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM, is essential for workers returning from long days under the sun, ensuring access to water and electricity. He maintained that this measure has not increased the level of impact on other circuits, nor does it contribute to the territory's overall deficit, asserting that the authorized megawatts for this protection are within current limits.

However, this official narrative is sharply contradicted by local residents. Citizens from circuits 116 and 117, among others, report frequent and extended power outages, making daily tasks such as cooking, storing water, and accessing internet services (Nauta Hogar) nearly impossible. Evaristo Rivero, a resident of Circuit 117, acknowledged the importance of supporting the solar park workers but vehemently disagreed with the company's claim of no spillover effect. He described his circuit as the “ugly duckling” of the Electric Company, noting its lack of institutional interest beyond a funeral home, and questioned how the director could deny the impact on other customers who also work long hours.

Sancti Spíritus faces a dire energy crisis, with Provincial Electric Company executives recently admitting to blackouts lasting up to 20 hours daily, often without prior notice, due to severe generation and fuel shortages. The province, with 95 primary circuits and a demand of 140-150 MW against a mere 5-10 MW capacity for daily rotation, lacks the technical conditions to implement organized, predictable distribution schemes common in other provinces. Odeivys Valdés Alba, the technical director, explained that with insufficient energy to maintain even two operational blocks, a “logical rotation” becomes unfeasible.

Despite the construction of new solar parks, including the one in Cabaiguán, officials concede these projects will not alleviate the immediate crisis. Solar generation integrates into the National Electric Power System but does not directly supply local circuits, limiting its effectiveness in addressing the prolonged blackouts. The profound social impact of these outages was poignantly articulated by Sayli Alba Álvarez, a local cultural promoter, who described the pervasive darkness as extending beyond electrical issues, casting a shadow over the city's cultural life, safety, and future. Cuba continues to grapple with a nationwide energy deficit, with the Electric Union forecasting ongoing blackouts and significant peak-hour impacts across the country.