Rationing map does not correspond to an official energy saving schedule

The original graphic belongs to a report by La Patilla published on May 15, 2026, about the rationing situation in the country. The graphic that went viral on social media is a modification of the original infographic with attached messages linking it to the announcement of savings by the interim government. On August 2, Delcy Rodríguez asked Venezuelans to save electricity and water due to the effects of the climate phenomenon known as El Niño. An image titled "Electricity Rationing by State" circulates on social media with a map of Venezuela indicating supposed hours of electrical service interruption in various regions of the country. Through our verification chatbot, La Tía del WhatsApp, also available on Telegram, they asked to verify the image. The graphic attributes, for example, between 3 and 7 hours of rationing in Falcón, between 6 and 10 hours in Zulia and Miranda, 12 hours in Táchira, between 4 and 12 hours in Mérida and Sucre, while states like Distrito Capital, Bolívar, and Delta Amacuro are said to be "without rationing." However, it is not an official report from a government agency. The image has circulated on social media before and after a speech by Delcy Rodríguez, in which she announced a plan for energy and water savings due to the effects of the climate phenomenon known as El Niño, leading some people to believe it was an official rationing plan issued by the interim presidency. Social media users One element that helps identify the origin of the image is the watermark that appears over the map, where it reads "vzlatransicion2026," but searching for this user on social media does not yield the image to verify. However, a reverse search using Google Lens showed that the image was shared on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. In a Facebook group called Tired of ABA CANTV [CAC], on August 1, 2026, a post was shared along with the image mentioning "the new official electricity rationing schedule now during times of change," and also noting that "as usual, Mérida and Táchira, which produce most of the vegetables, are the most affected." The post received 94 likes, 156 comments, and 21 shares. "Clear and straightforward: Until when, damn it?", with that description, user ji_predicciones shared the infographic on the social network Threads on July 18, 2026. It received 30 likes, 2 comments, 14 reposts, and 3 shares. On Instagram, user disa_energia shared the same image on July 17, 2026, describing that "The electrical crisis in Venezuela is not an accident, it is the result of systematic incompetence...". The post received 6 likes, 4 comments, and one share. Where does the graphic really originate? A reverse image search allowed tracking down an earlier version of the same graphic, with a different design but identical information about power outages. The content was shared on social media by users such as VicVennoticias Frontera, infovenezolano, and reporteros_de_merida. The latter shared the image on August 4, 2026, along with a caption saying "Now it’s official; before, they were internships." This version of the image incorporated the logo of the independent media outlet La Patilla, which published the infographic on its Instagram account on May 15, 2026. The post, inviting viewers to read the full article about the deterioration of the National Electrical System (SEN), noting that it operates at 25% capacity after three decades of obsolescence, garnered over 41,000 likes, 5,859 comments, and was shared 5,485 times. This map was the result of a research effort by La Patilla, where each journalist recorded the time without electricity in each state. In other words, it is a snapshot of the electricity scarcity in Venezuela at a specific moment, sources from La Patilla told Cocuyo Chequea. Image alteration The image in question was modified to include expressions such as "Millions of Venezuelans without power, without solutions," "Energy cannot be a privilege, it is a right," "SOS," and "Enough with the excuses!" These messages have an evident protest character and do not conform to the usual format of an official bulletin or technical report. Additionally, the graphic does not include a creation date, institutional author, data source, or methodology explaining how the supposed hours of electrical rationing shown on the map were calculated. Another element that rules out its institutional nature is the absence of logos, letterheads, seals, signatures, or official references supporting the claimed hours of rationing for each state. What did Delcy Rodríguez say about the electrical system? On August 2, 2026, Delcy Rodríguez asked Venezuelans to implement measures to save electricity and water at home, in offices, and productive sectors, as part of the actions announced in response to the possible effects of the climate phenomenon known as "Super El Niño." This official announcement should be distinguished from the image circulating on social media. While authorities have made public calls for energy savings, the viral image was not presented as an official document nor does it contain elements that attribute the information to any Venezuelan government entity. Despite the statements, several protests have taken place across Venezuela. On January 3, 2026, residents of Aragua and Carabobo demanded the restoration of the electrical service. Conclusion After applying our verification methodology, we determined that the image about electricity rationing in Venezuela does not correspond to an official report. The original graphic was published by a media outlet (La Patilla) in May 2026 and was taken out of context on social media, with added protest messages, and presented as an official rationing schedule, making it a misleading message. For any doubts or questions, you can consult La Tía del WhatsApp or the verification chatbot on Telegram from Efecto Cocuyo. This fact-check is the result of strict adherence to our verification methodology, based on analysis and comparison with available evidence, and does not represent opinions or value judgments, as established in our Neutrality and Non-Partisanship Policy, which warns about the limitations of journalism practice in Venezuela.