DisCo apologises to Kaduna, Zamfara residents

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has fixed October 24 to conduct an investigative public hearing to address the incessant grid collapses.
 
Recall that the grid collapsed penultimate Monday and power was restored the next day. The collapse on Saturday was the third within a week and the seventh this year.
   
The commission, in a notice posted on its X handle, yesterday, said the hearing would be held at its Hearing Room, Fourth Floor, Plot 1387, Cadastral Zone Central Business District, Abuja.
 
“All stakeholders, including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the general public are invited to the hearing.’’
 
NERC said it was mandated to conduct public hearings on critical issues relating to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
 
It added: “In line with Section 48(1) of the Electricity Act 2023 (as amended), NERC is mandated to conduct public hearings on critical issues relating to NESI.
 
“The commission has noted, with concern, the recent escalating incidences of grid disturbances often leading to marked outages in several states. Thus, reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.’’
 
Also, it revealed a factsheet on its operational performance for September, which reads, “This factsheet contains operational performance data of grid-connected power plants for September 2024. For additional information, reports, NERC Orders and Regulations, visit our website.”
 
The infamous episodes of grid collapse are a reminder of the challenges Nigeria is facing in stabilising its power supply.
 
However, a closer look at recent data provided by NERC for September 2024 paints a picture that is not all bleak.
 
According to the report, Nigeria’s power generation comes from 28 grid-connected plants, achieving a 41 per cent plant availability factor, representing a five per cent improvement compared to the previous month. The average available capacity stands at 5,533 megawatts (mw), reflecting a 14 per cent increase.
 
Despite this, Nigeria’s power plants generated an average of 4,492 mw/h in September, an eight per cent increase from the previous month.
   
This is as the management of Kaduna Electric, yesterday, apologised to its customers affected by the service interruption in Kaduna and Zamfara states. 
 
In a statement issued by the Head, Corporate Communication, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, the firm stated that the power outage, which its customers in Kaduna and environs, Zaria as well as Gusau in Zamfara were experiencing was a result of loss of bulk power supply from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Abdullahi explained that a communication received from TCN indicated that the Agwaji-Benue-Jos 330KV bulk circuit tripped in the morning and a trial was made after a few minutes, but the line tripped again on the same indication.
  
“Consequently, bulk power supply to some parts of North Central and most parts of North East and North West states is being interrupted.
 
“Meanwhile, the TCN Engineering crews have commenced patrol of the line to identify and rectify the fault.
  
“We sincerely apologise to our esteemed customers affected by the service interruption,” the statement noted.