NERC to hold public hearing on recurring grid collapses

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says it will conduct an investigative public hearing to identify immediate and remote causes of recurring incidents of grid disturbances.

In a statement on Saturday, the commission said it would also conduct a probe on extensive outages.

“In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing with a view to identifying immediate and remote causes of recurring incidence of grid disturbances and widespread outages,” the commission said.

NERC added that the date and venue of the public hearing “would shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate”.

“The commission notes with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outage in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability,” NERC said.

“Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and associated cascade of power plants shutdown arising from the loss of load.

“However, efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT.

“In line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator function (ISO) out of Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc is ongoing with the expectation that an independent SO would engender more discipline in grid management and optimised investment in infrastructure.”

Earlier today, the national electricity grid collapsed for the third time within a week and the eighth time in 2024.

On February 4, the first national grid collapse occurred.

Subsequently, on March 28, April 15, July 6, and August 5, the national grid collapsed.

Nigerians experienced another blackout on October 14, and October 15.

On May 1, TCN said the number of system collapses had reduced significantly in the country, as the grid disturbances declined by 76.47 percent in five years.

Also commenting on the frequent system failure at the national grid, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said it is inevitable due to the outdated infrastructure.