TCN, IKEDC clash over Band A outages, blame power generation shortfall

"IKEDC’s explanation, inaccurate and misleading".... Says TCN 

.... Urges electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to stop attributing supply interruptions to the transmission company without verified evidence.

Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has faulted Ikeja Electric’s attribution of recent Band A electricity outages to grid instability, insisting that reduced power generation, rather than transmission network failures, is responsible for the decline in supply to customers.

TCN, in a statement issued by its management on Friday, described IKEDC’s explanation as inaccurate and misleading, urging electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to stop attributing supply interruptions to the transmission company without verified evidence.

The disagreement followed a public notice issued by IKEDC on November 5, in which the electricity distribution company attributed several Band A feeder outages recorded on November 3 and 4 to grid instability, identifying TCN as the responsible party.

However, TCN, in its response dated November 6, said the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), which is statutorily responsible for determining the causes of disturbances and interruptions on the national grid, had not attributed the outages to any failure of its transmission network.

Citing Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023, TCN argued that individual distribution companies lacked the authority to independently determine the root causes of disturbances on the national grid, insisting that such assessments fell within NISO's statutory responsibilities.

It referred customers and other stakeholders to NISO's clarification issued on November 5, which attributed the current decline in electricity generation to gas supply constraints affecting thermal power plants and reduced output from hydroelectric stations due to lower reservoir inflows.

According to TCN, the constraints had reduced available generation, consequently lowering the quantum of electricity allocated to distribution companies and resulting in fewer hours of supply and increased load shedding across their networks.

The transmission company maintained that it could only transmit electricity generated and made available to it, stressing that reduced generation should not be confused with a failure of the transmission network.

Providing details of interruptions across feeders supplying IKEDC, TCN said its records showed that 68 per cent of outages recorded on November 1 and 2 were frequency-control load shedding resulting from low power generation.

It added that 26 per cent were linked to IKEDC's failure to comply with load allocations issued by NISO's National Control Centre (NCC), as well as faults and maintenance activities on the distribution company's network.

The remaining six per cent, according to TCN, resulted from its planned maintenance, switching operations or line limitations.

It stressed that none of the recorded interruptions was caused by equipment failure or a trip on its transmission network.

Specifically addressing the 33kV feeders identified in IKEDC's notice, TCN said 29 out of 46 recorded interruptions resulted from frequency-control load shedding caused by inadequate generation.

Fourteen interruptions were attributed to IKEDC, comprising nine cases of non-compliance with allocated load and five cases involving faults or trips on its distribution network.

The remaining three interruptions, it explained, were scheduled maintenance activities by TCN on the Ogba-Alimosho line on November 1.

The company also cited the Rack Centre feeder as an example, explaining that its interruption on November 2 resulted from a cable fault on IKEDC's network, which was subsequently repaired by the distribution company's technical team.

TCN further noted that IKEDC's own public notice had identified some affected feeders, including MTN, Iju Water Works and Rack Centre, as having 33kV faults attributed to the distribution company.

It warned that blaming transmission infrastructure for electricity shortfalls arising from generation constraints could mislead consumers, undermine public confidence and distract attention from the actual challenges confronting the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

The transmission company consequently urged IKEDC and other DisCos to desist from making what it described as unfounded claims about the causes of electricity supply interruptions, advising them to base public communication on verified information from NISO.

It also encouraged electricity consumers to consult NISO's official communication platforms for accurate updates on developments within the power sector.

While expressing sympathy with customers experiencing reduced hours of electricity supply, TCN reaffirmed its commitment to transmitting all available power safely, reliably and efficiently, despite prevailing operational constraints.

It added that it would continue working with NISO, generation companies and distribution companies to address the challenges affecting electricity supply across the country.