The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has raised concerns over the rising frequency of grid disturbances, which have recently led to power outages across multiple states.
In a statement on Saturday October 19th 2024, NERC said these incidents threaten to reverse the progress made in reducing infrastructure deficits and enhancing grid stability.
The Commission further stated that initial findings from today’s grid disturbance point to an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 8:15 AM, which triggered a cascading shutdown of several power plants due to load loss. However, by 1:00 PM, power had been restored to 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In accordance with the Electricity Act of 2023, the process of unbundling the System Operator (ISO) from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is underway. The expectation is that this move will foster greater discipline in grid management and drive optimized infrastructure investments.
To address the ongoing issues with the national grid, NERC plans to hold an investigative public hearing aimed at identifying both the immediate and underlying causes of recurring grid disturbances. The date and venue for the hearing will be announced soon in national newspapers, and stakeholders are urged to participate.
