TCN: We’ve begun real-time monitoring of national grid to improve stability

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has commenced the implementation of the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to enable real-time monitoring and control of the power grid.

Sule Abdulaziz, the managing director of TCN, addressed the members of the house of representatives committee on power on Monday during their oversight visit to the company in Abuja.

Abdulaziz said the technological advancements would significantly improve grid stability, reduce transmission losses and enable quicker responses to faults and disturbances.

He said the TCN has also implemented effective frequency control and load balancing, leading to a significant reduction in the occurrence of partial and full system collapses.

“There is increased grid visibility as the in-house engineers made use of internet of things (IoT) with the implementation of automatic meter reading infrastructure,” Abdulaziz said.

“There is overhaul digital transformation, using internal homegrown solutions and vendor-procured applications to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of TCN wide operations.”

The managing director said there is also a designated web portal for managing the output of generations and its allocation to distribution companies (DisCos).

Abdulaziz said the achievements of TCN under his leadership have been instrumental in strengthening the transmission infrastructure and enhancing grid stability.

“However, sustaining these efforts requires continued investment, capacity building and collaborative partnerships,” he said.

“The federal government support is crucial in bolstering TCN’s initiatives and providing the necessary resources to build a resilient and efficient transmission network.

“This will enable the company to meet the nation’s growing power demands and contribute to sustainable development and together, we can achieve a brighter and energy-abundant future for the country.”

In his remarks, Victor Nwokolo, chairman of the house of representatives committee on power, urged the TCN to engage state governments on right of way (ROW).

Nwokolo also stressed the need for the TCN to discuss the security of power infrastructure with state governors, adding that many structures have been destroyed.

Addressing the issue of ground rent, the lawmaker assured that the house would examine it and ensure that payments are made from the time the infrastructure was established.