Cuba: Authorities announce planned power outages in Havana from August

Event

Authorities in Havana have announced that the capital will initiate scheduled power outages from early August. Reports suggest that each of the capital's six municipalities will have a scheduled blackout of four hours (10:00-14:00) once every three days. Scheduled blackouts in the capital will only take place during daylight hours, according to authorities. The announcement comes as the country struggles with an energy crisis; many parts of the country have been experiencing daily blackouts. The precise schedule remains unclear. Authorities have also canceled Havana's carnival celebrations in August.

The outages will likely prompt short-term disruptions to business operations, utilities, telecommunications, and possibly transport.

Advice

Plan for electricity disruptions. Conserve batteries and restrict cellphone use to emergencies in case of an extended power outage. Exercise caution when driving or crossing streets if traffic signals are not functioning, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. For safety reasons, monitor generators while they are operating due to potential fires. Unplug appliances and electronic equipment to protect against surge damage when power resumes.