National Grid: FG Transfers Control to Private Operators

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has announced that discussions are underway to transfer the management of Nigeria’s national power grid to an Independent System Operator (ISO). This move aligns with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, aimed at fostering more discipline and efficiency in the management of the grid.

NERC also disclosed that the recent national grid collapse, which occurred early Saturday, was caused by an explosion at the Jebba transmission station. The commission confirmed that power restoration efforts have made significant progress, with electricity restored in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory by 1 pm that same day.

This incident marked the third national grid collapse in just one week, leading to widespread power outages across the country. Earlier, the grid had tripped off on both Monday and Tuesday, following attempts to restore power.

In a statement posted on its official X handle, NERC expressed concern over the increasing frequency of grid disturbances, which have led to major outages in several states. These disturbances have undermined recent progress in reducing the infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.

“Initial reports indicate that today’s outage was triggered by the explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 08:15 hours, causing a cascading shutdown of power plants due to the loss of load,” the statement read. “However, as of 13:00 hours, supply has been largely restored to 33 states and the FCT.”

NERC further announced that it will soon conduct an investigative public hearing to identify the immediate and underlying causes of these recurring grid disturbances and widespread outages.

“In accordance with the Electricity Act 2023, the process of unbundling the System Operator from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is ongoing. The creation of an Independent System Operator is expected to enhance grid management discipline and stimulate optimized investment in infrastructure,” the commission said.

The date and venue for the public hearing will be announced in the national dailies, and stakeholders are encouraged to participate actively in the process, NERC added.