The Cuban government has decided to cancel the planned time change set for the upcoming Saturday, announcing that daylight saving time will remain in effect without interruption until November 7, 2027. This announcement comes from a joint statement by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS).
This decision breaks with Cuba's usual practice of alternating between standard time (UTC-5) and daylight saving time (UTC-4). As a result, clocks will stay one hour ahead throughout the winter of 2026-2027, diverging from the typical schedule.
The official statement attributes this change to the ongoing electricity crisis on the island. Instead of acknowledging the government's role, it points fingers at the U.S. embargo for causing a "shortage of fuels needed for electricity generation."
According to MINEM and MTSS, keeping the clocks set to daylight saving time will prevent an increase in power outages by 126 MW during the high-demand evening hours: 76 MW savings in artificial lighting and 50 MW from utilizing solar photovoltaic generation during that time frame.
The rationale is that by maintaining daylight saving time through the winter, the official afternoon aligns with more daylight hours, allowing solar panels to contribute energy when demand peaks.
Nevertheless, a downside is that sunrise will occur later according to the official time during the colder months, impacting the morning activities of millions of Cubans.
To address this, the government plans to delay the start of school and work by 30 minutes from November 1, 2026, until March 14, 2027, the period when standard time would normally be in effect.
Entity leaders are instructed to adjust schedules in coordination with labor unions, as outlined in Article 223.2 of Law 189, the new Labor Code from July 30, 2026, ensuring "no impact on workers' salaries," according to the statement.
Organizations operating continuously can also modify their shifts based on their specific operational needs.
This measure comes during a particularly critical moment for Cuba's electrical system. This Saturday, the Electric Union projected an availability of just 915 MW against a demand of 2,850 MW, anticipating a maximum shortfall of 1,865 MW.
On October 16, a fire at the Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant left only 740 MW available against a demand of 2,900 MW, resulting in 75% of the island being without power simultaneously.
Days later, the government itself admitted that approximately 2.5 million Cubans were experiencing electrical service disruptions, with only 830 MW available to meet a demand of 2,820 MW.
The next regular time change in Cuba is set for November 7, 2027, when clocks will finally be set back to return to standard time.
Understanding Cuba's Daylight Saving Time Extension
Why is Cuba extending daylight saving time until 2027?
Cuba is extending daylight saving time to mitigate the impact of its ongoing electricity crisis, aiming to take advantage of more daylight hours and reduce the need for artificial lighting and power outages.
How will the time change affect daily life in Cuba?
The time change will mean later sunrises, impacting morning routines. To compensate, school and work start times will be delayed by 30 minutes during the winter months.