Widespread Power Grid Collapse Hits Dominican Republic: Recovery Underway Following November 11 Outage

On November 11, 2025, the Dominican Republic experienced an unprecedented nationwide power outage that plunged nearly 11 million residents into darkness. This massive incident stands out as one of the most significant energy failures the country has faced, drawing comparisons to the severe grid collapse witnessed on the Iberian Peninsula in April of the same year. The event starkly highlighted the inherent vulnerabilities within the nation’s critical energy infrastructure, prompting immediate concern regarding system resilience.

The crisis began precisely at 13:23 local time. A critical failure at the San Pedro I substation, situated in the province of San Pedro de Macorís, initiated a rapid, catastrophic cascading shutdown across the power network. This immediate malfunction instantly crippled major generating capacity, including units operated by the Compañía por Electrificación San Pedro de Macorís (CESPM) and the Quisqueya Power Plant. The Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica Dominicana (ETED) subsequently confirmed that this domino effect impacted numerous other generation and transmission facilities, effectively paralyzing the national grid.

The immediate consequences were severe, particularly in the capital, Santo Domingo. Major transportation arteries were paralyzed, forcing the immediate halt of both the metro system and funiculars, requiring commuters to evacuate the darkened tunnels. While essential services, such as major hospitals and banking institutions, transitioned seamlessly to backup generators, millions of homes and small businesses were left without electricity. In a swift response, Minister of Energy and Mining Joel Santos addressed the public, detailing a phased restoration plan that prioritized the critical sectors of transportation and healthcare.

Restoration efforts commenced immediately, focusing on stabilizing the remaining operational segments. By 20:30 that evening, authorities successfully reintegrated approximately 1,442 megawatts (MW) into the network. This figure represented about 42% of the country’s standard consumption levels. Later, Minister Joel Santos Echavarría provided an update, noting that generation had reached over 527 MW, which accounted for roughly 15% of the total national demand. He stressed that output volume would steadily increase as the system achieved greater stability. Officials cautioned that a comprehensive analysis of the complex electrical system would be necessary to definitively determine the precise root cause of the widespread failure.

Energy experts analyzing the event suggest this incident serves as a crucial wake-up call, demanding a fundamental reassessment of resource management priorities. Despite recent strategic investments aimed at diversifying the energy mix—including the development of solar parks in the Peravia province—the blackout underscored a deeper systemic issue. Experts argue that the primary focus must shift toward strengthening system balancing mechanisms and resolving internal systemic imbalances, rather than merely repairing isolated components or nodes within the grid.