KEY POINTS
- TCN says low electricity generation, rather than transmission failure, caused most recent supply disruptions.
- The company attributes 26% of recorded feeder interruptions to issues involving Ikeja Electric.
- Unreliable electricity continues to increase operating costs for Lagos households, businesses and property owners.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has accused Ikeja Electric of misleading customers over recent power interruptions in parts of Lagos, insisting that reduced electricity generation and faults on the distribution network were largely responsible.
In a statement issued on November 6, TCN disputed a public notice released by Ikeja Electric two days earlier, which blamed grid instability for outages affecting some Band A electricity feeders on November 3 and 4.
Ikeja Electric had identified TCN as responsible for the disruptions. However, the transmission company said the interruptions were mainly caused by inadequate gas supplies to thermal power stations, reduced hydropower generation and operational problems within the distribution network.
The disagreement has renewed concerns about accountability in Nigeria’s electricity market, where consumers continue to experience reduced supply hours despite paying for different service bands.
TCN blames reduced electricity generation
TCN said the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) identified gas supply constraints affecting thermal power plants and lower output from hydroelectric stations as the major reasons for the decline in electricity generation.
According to the company, inadequate gas supplies have limited the amount of electricity produced by thermal power stations, while reduced water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs have affected hydropower generation.
The resulting decline in available electricity has forced the system operator to reduce power allocations to distribution companies, leading to fewer supply hours and increased load shedding across their networks.
TCN argued that a shortage of electricity generated by power stations should not be confused with a failure of the national transmission network.
It cited Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023, which gives NISO responsibility for determining the causes of disturbances, electricity shortfalls and interruptions on the national grid.
The transmission company maintained that distribution companies should obtain verified operational information from NISO before informing customers about the causes of power disruptions.
TCN attributes most feeder interruptions to low generation
To support its position, TCN released operational records covering feeder interruptions recorded on November 1 and 2.
It said 68% of the interruptions during the period resulted from frequency-control load shedding introduced because of insufficient electricity generation.
Another 26% were attributed to Ikeja Electric’s alleged failure to comply with power allocations issued by NISO’s National Control Centre, alongside faults and maintenance activities on the distribution company’s network.
TCN attributed the remaining 6% to its own planned maintenance, switching operations and transmission line limitations.
It insisted that none of the recorded interruptions resulted from equipment failure on its transmission network.
The company also examined 46 interruptions involving the 33kV feeders listed in Ikeja Electric’s public notice.
According to its assessment, 29 interruptions were caused by load shedding associated with low electricity generation, while 14 involved issues attributed to Ikeja Electric.
Of the 14 interruptions linked to the distribution company, TCN said nine resulted from non-compliance with allocated electricity, while five were caused by faults or trips on Ikeja Electric’s network.
The remaining three interruptions involved scheduled maintenance on the Ogba-Alimosho transmission line.
TCN also cited a cable fault affecting the Rack Centre feeder on November 2, which it said was repaired by Ikeja Electric’s maintenance team.
However, the operational records covering November 1 and 2 do not directly correspond to the November 3 and 4 outages identified in Ikeja Electric’s notice. The figures therefore represent TCN’s explanation of the broader pattern of interruptions rather than a complete breakdown of every disruption cited by the distribution company.
Power shortages increase costs for businesses and households
The disagreement comes amid persistent electricity supply challenges that continue to affect households, businesses and industrial operators across Nigeria.
When electricity from the national grid becomes unreliable, consumers increasingly depend on petrol and diesel generators, solar installations and other alternative energy sources.
This raises operating expenses for manufacturers, commercial establishments, landlords and property managers, particularly those that require uninterrupted electricity to deliver services.
The real estate sector is also exposed to the effects of unreliable power supply. Residential estates, shopping centres, office buildings and industrial properties often require backup generators, additional fuel purchases and regular equipment maintenance to maintain electricity for occupants and tenants.
These expenses can increase service charges and affect rental affordability, particularly in properties where electricity is a major component of operating costs.
Businesses operating from commercial buildings may also face higher production costs and interruptions to daily activities when grid supply becomes inadequate.
TCN urges distribution companies to verify outage reports
TCN has urged Ikeja Electric and other electricity distribution companies to avoid attributing supply interruptions to transmission failures without first obtaining verified information from NISO.
It warned that incorrectly blaming transmission infrastructure for generation-related shortages could mislead electricity consumers, undermine public confidence and divert attention from the actual problems affecting the power sector.
The company expressed sympathy for customers experiencing reduced electricity supply and said it would continue working with NISO, generation companies and distribution companies to improve power delivery.
The dispute nevertheless points to continuing challenges in communication and accountability across Nigeria’s electricity value chain.
Electricity generation companies produce power, TCN operates the transmission network, while distribution companies deliver electricity to end users. Disruptions at any stage can affect the amount of power ultimately available to consumers.
Clearer communication and access to reliable operational information will therefore be important in determining responsibility whenever electricity supply falls below expected levels.
For Lagos residents, businesses and property owners, the immediate concern remains the reliability of electricity and the additional costs associated with keeping homes and commercial properties powered.
