DisCos reject 539MW of electricity in 7 days, maintain relative distribution efficiency

Samuel Agbelusi

The eleven(11) electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have wasted about 539.93 MegaWatts(MW) within the distribution network, representing 2.5 percent of  21,962.62MW, of power received from Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) between Saturday, August 06, and Friday, August 12, 2022, after distributing about 21,422.69 MW to electricity consumers.

This was contained in the analysis of the data EnergyDay obtained from  Nigeria’s Power System Operator via its website for the period under review.

The figure showed that DisCos distributed 97.5%, of which the bulk of electricity was allocated by the TCN in the period under review.

EnergyDay, therefore, gathered that 2.5% represents the limited amount of electricity lost within the distribution network due to some technical issues and other common phenomena.

Based on the data obtained by EnergyDay, as of Saturday, August 06, 2022, the DisCos received 3,347.69 MW from TCN  and distributed only 3,003.35MW(actual power consumption) for that day.

This figure showed that about 344MW, equivalent to 10.27% of the total electricity transmitted for the day, was unaccounted for within the distribution network. This figure was the highest technical losses recorded in the period under review.

The breakdown of the distribution of power from the DisCos to the consumers for that day showed that Ikeja DisCo distributed the highest with 487.14MW and Yola DisCo got the lowest with 102.34(MW).

Quantum of electricity distributed by others includes Benin Disco(315.68MW) Eko (379.93MW) Enugu (302.96MW) Abuja Disco (455.10MW) Ibadan (410.54MW) Jos (170.25MW) Kaduna (219.81MW) Kano  (229.34W) and Port-Harcourt (233.24MW).

Meanwhile, on Sunday, August 07, the DisCos received 2,963.5MW from the TCN, as it managed to distribute 2,993.3MW (actual consumption), therefore wasted only 30MW (1.0%) received for that day.

The data for that day showed that Ikeja received the highest with 419.04MW and Yola received the lowest with 91.40(MW). Others are Benin (263.30MW) Eko(366.00MW), Enugu (268.59MW), Abuja (414.12MW), Ibadan (365.30MW), Jos (163.27W), Kaduna (207.65MW), Kano (212.05MW) and Port-Harcourt (222.58MW).

The Monday figure showed that DisCos received 3,054.72MW from the TCN, after distributing  3,048.81MW within its network. It, therefore, was unable to utilise about 5.91MW representing 0.19% of the power it obtained from TCN.
The figure for the day showed that Ikeja Electric received 442.08MW, while Yola DisCo was allocated 90.54MW.

The breakdown for the day showed that Benin Disco distributed 283.10MW, as others including Eko Electric got 395.91MW, Enugu (268.21MW), Abuja  (413.79MW), Ibadan  (374.71MW), Jos (176.92 MW), Kaduna (203.50MW), Kano (212.58MW) and Port-Harcourt  (222.13MW).

The DisCos received on Tuesday, received 2,951.25MW, despite 3,010.69MW wheeled for actual consumption. This, therefore, showed that about 59.44MW, representing  1.97% was wasted in the distribution network.

Abuja Disco on that day received  431.30MW(highest) while Yola received 93.18MW(lowest) for that day.

Others are Benin (253.71MW), Eko (376.48MW), Enugu(286.37MW), Ikeja (402.02MW), Ibadan  (363.95MW), Jos  (170.61MW), Kaduna (203.25MW), Kano (212.43MW) and Port-Harcourt (217.39MW).

On Wednesday, August 10, Discos was distributed 3,074.17MW, after it received 3,058.75MW from TCN. This figure showed that about 15.25MW, representing 0.49% was wasted within the distribution network.

The breakdown for the day showed that Abuja Disco received the highest with 447.44MW, and Yola also received 89.79MW, being the lowest.

Others are Benin (268.48MW), Eko (361.94MW), Enugu with (298.65MW), Ikeja (425.73MW) Ibadan (351.98MW), Jos (178.16MW), Kaduna (209.40MW), Kano (213.01MW) and Port-Harcourt(229.59MW).

On Thursday, DisCos received 3,142.93MW from the TCN, after distributing 3,165.18MW( plus excess load). It, therefore, was able to record in excess of about 22.25MW representing 0.7% of the power it obtained from TCN.

The figure for the day showed that Ikeja Electric did the highest distribution for actual consumption with 481.81MW with Yola still retaining the lowest rank having been allocated 85.89MW.

The breakdown for the day showed that Benin Disco distributed 305.27MW, as others including Eko Electric got 390.67MW, Enugu (278.68MW), Abuja (448.90MW), Ibadan  (366.85MW), Jos (169.09MW), Kaduna (217.47MW), Kano (197.79MW) and Port-Harcourt  (222.76MW).

Meanwhile, on Friday, August 12, the Discos received 3,443.78MW from the TCN, as it managed to distribute 3,127.19MW.  They were unable to wheel 316.59MW (10.1%) of the power allocated on that day.

The data for that day showed that Ikeja received the highest with 454.88MW and Yola received the lowest with 91.14(MW). Others are Benin (277.51MW) Eko(324.29MW), Enugu (288.33MW), Abuja (453.50MW), Ibadan (356.45MW), Jos (185.77MW), Kaduna (223.51MW), Kano (252.60MW) and Port-Harcourt (219.21MW).

The analysis by EnergyDay for the period under review, therefore, showed that 2,993MW, being the lowest wheeled for actual consumption by the DisCos, was recorded on Sunday, August 7, while the highest was attained on Thursday with 3,163MW.

A summary of the data gathered within the period under review showed that despite the improvement in the quantum of power that TCN released to the 11 DisCos. The latter distributed a significant portion of the power allocated by the former. While it also accounted for limited losses compared to the previous record of allocation and losses.

However, inefficient transmission networks remained a significant factor inhibiting growth level within the entire electricity market and Nigerian electricity value chain.

Speaking with EnergyDay, Mrs Busola the spokesperson of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) stressed that power can not be stored hence the need for the distribution of power.

She said that there are situations where there is an excess load of power which is a result of particular DisCos not being able to distribute the available power.

However, the spokespersons of other DisCos did not return calls as of the time of filing this report.

Ndidi Mbah, the TCN spokesperson, was not responding to text messages and calls by our correspondent seeking her comments on the latest development.