Cuba's national grid collapses again, leaving about 9 million people without power
18 September 2026
Cuba's national electricity grid collapsed on 18 September, leaving about 9 million people across the island without power. The energy ministry announced the total collapse on social media. Cuban authorities told Reuters a failure in high-voltage transmission lines in the centre of the country set it off; the state utility Unión Eléctrica (UNE) also blamed unstable weather. By the next day nearly half of UNE's customers in Havana had power again. It was at least the 12th nationwide blackout since late 2024 and at least the sixth this year. Fuel shortages, ageing plants and the US-imposed oil blockade keep the grid under strain, and rolling cuts continue even when it is running.
In plain words
UNE Unión Eléctrica — Cuba's state-run electricity company, which operates the national grid.
Grid collapse Total grid collapse — A failure in which the whole national power network shuts down at once.