DisCos distribute 980MW in excess of 22,390.49 MW load allocations from TCN in 7 days

Samuel Agbelusi

The eleven(11) electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria have relatively improved on their load collection with the distribution of 980.95MegaWatts(MW) in excess of 22,390.49 MW, being the total quantum of power that was allocated to the distribution network by the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) between Saturday, October 1, and Friday, October 7, 2022.

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, therefore, showed that excess of about 980.95MW of power was distributed by the DisCos, while some of the distribution companies rejected a total of 795.20MW allocated to them in the period under review.

Based on the data obtained by EnergyDay, as of Saturday, October 01, 2022, the eleven DisCos received 3,070.52MW from TCN and distributed only 3,030.19MW(actual power consumption) for that day. A total of 122.71MW was unutilised while 82.38MW was accounted for as excess load.

In the period under review only two of the DisCos, namely, Benin(BEDC) and Eko(EKEDC) sustained excess load intake throughout the seven day.

Meanwhile, Enugu (EEDC) and Jos (JED) rejected load allocations throughout the week.

The breakdown of the distribution of power from the DisCos to the consumers for October 1, showed that Abuja DisCo distributed the highest with 447.01MW and Yola DisCo had the lowest distribution with 85.18(MW).149.55

Quantum of electricity distributed by others include Benin Disco(294.43MW) Eko (327.42MW) Enugu (277.24MW) Ikeja Disco (392.31W) Ibadan (359.07MW) Jos (179.40MW) Kaduna (214.09MW) Kano (220.17MW) and Port-Harcourt (233.87MW).

Meanwhile, on Sunday, October 02, the DisCos received 3,012.88MW from the TCN, as it managed to distribute 3,031.32MW (actual consumption). A total of 131.10MW was unutilised while 149.55MW load was distributed in excess for that day.

The data for that day showed that Ikeja distributed the highest with 476.88MW and Yola had the lowest distribution with 92.63(MW).

Others are Benin (276.19MW) Eko(338.76MW), Enugu (263.75MW), Abuja (357.49MW), Ibadan (367.97MW), Jos (162.19MW), Kaduna (236.70MW), Kano (229.88MW) and Port-Harcourt (228.88MW).

The Monday figure showed that DisCos received 3,026.34MW from the TCN, after distributing 3,257.52MW within its network. Only 68.48MW was unutilised while 299.66MW load was distributed in excess.

The figure for the day showed that Ikeja Electric distributed 539.68MW, while Yola DisCo gave out 98.29MW.

The breakdown for the day showed that Benin Disco distributed 284.00MW, as others including Eko Electric 425.06MW, Enugu (279.24MW), Abuja (380.98MW), Ibadan (397.92MW), Jos (174.30MW), Kaduna (214.68W), Kano (229.20MW) and Port-Harcourt (234.17MW).

The DisCos received on Tuesday, received 3,134.55MW from TCN, despite 3,164.44MW being wheeled for actual consumption. 77.95MW was unutilised while 107.83MW excess load was recorded for that day.

Abuja Disco on that day wheeled 472.09MW(highest) while Yola distributed 103.56MW(lowest) for that day.

Others are Benin (280.85MW), Eko (330.98MW), Enugu(275.71MW), Ikeja (468.28MW), Ibadan (360.88W), Jos (192.04MW), Kaduna (214.35MW), Kano (237.03MW) and Port-Harcourt (228.67MW).

On Wednesday, October 05, Discos distributed 3,268.36MW, after it received 3,292.87MW from TCN. A total of 136.42MW was unutilised while 111.93MW excess load was recorded.

The breakdown for the day showed that Abuja Disco received the highest with 504.26 MW, and Yola also received 91.08MW, being the lowest.

Others are Benin (301.93MW), Eko (364.04MW), Enugu with (277.21MW), Ikeja (492.43MW) Ibadan (377.60MW), Jos (185.10MW), Kaduna (216.32MW), Kano (244.48MW) and Port-Harcourt(213.91MW).

On Thursday, DisCos received 3,257.84MW from the TCN, after distributing 3,250.15MW. A total of 122.62MW was unutilised while 125.47MW load was distributed in excess.

The figure for the day showed that Ikeja Electric did the highest distribution for actual consumption with 500.58MW with Yola still retaining the lowest rank having been allocated 101.58MW.

The breakdown for the day showed that Benin Disco distributed 296.35MW, as others including Eko Electric 356.37MW, Enugu (288.37MW), Abuja (463.26MW), Ibadan (366.44MW), Jos (193.46MW), Kaduna (238.18MW), Kano (246.40MW) and Port-Harcourt (199.16MW).

Meanwhile, on Friday, October 07, the Discos received 3,420.31MW from the TCN, as it managed to distribute 3,388.51MW. A total of 135.92MW was unutilised while 104.13MW excess load was recorded for the day.

The data for that day showed that Ikeja received the highest with 522.71MW and Yola received the lowest with 110.26(MW).

Others are Benin (311.11MW), Eko(373.49MW), Enugu (277.79MW), Abuja (478.74MW), Ibadan (410.40MW), Jos (196.33MW), Kaduna (237.23MW), Kano (258.01MW) and Port-Harcourt (212.44MW).

The analysis by EnergyDay for the period under review, therefore, showed that 3,030.19MW, being the lowest wheeled for actual consumption by the DisCos, was recorded on Saturday, October 01, while the highest load allocation of 3,388MW was attained on Friday.

A summary of the data gathered within the period under review showed that despite the unbalanced distribution in the quantum of power that TCN released to the 11 DisCos, a significant portion of the power was allocated to the end users.

The DisCos also accounted for limited losses compared to the previous record of allocations and losses.

This reflected a relative improvement in the investment in infrastructure within the distribution network, as the majority of the DisCos had in recent times embarked on the installations of distribution transformers, new panels and lines.

The significant quantum of power distributed by the DisCos further reflected an improvement in the DisCos’ evacuation performance.

EnergyDay gathered that the Enugu and Jos maintained load rejection, exhibiliting a level of poor performance amongst the 11 DisCos. The two DisCo are therefore liable to pay more for the associated capacity charge, based on the provision of the July 2022 Multi Year Tariff Order, (MYTO) minor review.

However, inefficient transmission networks remained a significant factor inhibiting growth levels within the entire electricity market.

The transmission network is therefore relying on the completion of the Siemens-Nigeria Presidential Power Initiative(PPI) to boost capacity to about 7000MW from its 4000 average wheeling capacity.

EnergyDay’s check also gathered that the National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo, Osun state, managed by TCN instructed some power generation companies to reduce power allocated to the national grid at 12 midnight, Friday.

The TCN attributed the request to the load rejection by Distribution Companies (DisCos).

Joy Ogaji, the . Executive Secretary Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) in reaction to the load rejected noted that the instruction was necessary because of too much frequency.

According to her, higher frequency means that the electricity generated by the GenCos is much more than what can be overcuated by the TCN for onward delivery to DisCos. .

Ogaji revealed that generation has improved in recent times but the distribution and transmission infrastructures are grossly inadequate to evacuate the load from the GenCos.