Nationwide blackout, as DisCos embark on load-shedding due to poor allocations 

Oredola Adeola

The first major power sector crisis in the year 2023 has occurred, coming on the sideline of load-shedding being carried out by the Nigerian Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) across all their network areas, particularly affecting electricity customers on Bands C, D, and E.

Some of the DisCos, at the weekend, confirmed this action in separate statements issued and released to the customers appealing for their understanding.

EnergyDay’s correspondent who monitored the situation over the weekend showed that most customers only enjoy a daily average of 3 to 4 hours of electricity and some have been in complete darkness for almost three days. Further investigation showed that those customers on Bands A and B, are presently receiving an average of 20 hours of electricity.

Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) in a statement to its customers attributed the irregular power supply experienced by specific customers to the reduced load allocations from the national grid to its network.

Mr. Godwin Idemudia, General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, in the state apologised to customers in Lagos and Ogun states over the irregular power supply in some parts of the states.

 According to Idemudia, the outages affected some customers in some parts of Badagry, Lagos, and Ogun State under Agbara District of the company.

While promising residents that normalcy would be restored to the affected communities as soon as the allocations are increased to its network, the EKEDC GMCC further explained that its allocation from the Grid was not sufficient for distribution within its network.

He “ We notify our esteemed customers in Lagos Island of an impending maintenance work scheduled for Sunday, Jan.22, between 9am -1pm.

“This maintenance work will require Fowler injection substation to be temporarily shut down. So, Ikoyi and the environs under Island district will be out of supply during the period of the outage.

Ikeja Electric(IE) also in a statement to its customers, apologized for the poor supply.

According to IE, the current poor power supply you have been experiencing in certain parts of our network lately. It stated that the supply shortfall was due to the inadequate allocation received, hence the load shedding.

It said, “We regret the inconvenience this has caused and wish to assure you that we are engaging the responsible stakeholders in the electricity value chain to improve the situation.”

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) also in a statement informed its customers of the decline in the power supply to its franchise area.

According to DisCo, the decline in power supply across our franchise areas is due to insufficient load allocations received, hence we are compelled to load shed power temporarily across the different areas.

AEDC said, “While we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused, we appealed for your patience as we are in collaboration with all our stakeholders to ensure the power supply is improved.”

Benin Electricity Distribution Company(BEDC) in a statement to its customers over the shortage of supply currently being experienced in its franchise states, blamed it on the insufficient allocation from the grid.

BEDC said, “We regret the inconvenience caused by the situation, and appeal for your patience and understanding even as we relentlessly engage stakeholders in the electricity value chain, in a bid to resolve the situation and improve supply.”

However, Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) said out of 3,650MW generated as of January 18, 2023, at 12:30 am, allocation to its network was 268MW, which will be distributed across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu, and Imo states.

Adbulazeez Abdullahi, Head of Corporate Communication, Kaduna Electric in a statement also confirmed the poor load allocation.

He confirmed that some areas under its network will experience disruption while others will enjoy near-uninterrupted supply, adding that some customers in part of the Kaduna metropolis will observe near-uninterrupted supply despite low generation.

According to him, in order to safeguard the national grid from the risk of collapse some feeders are being supplied uninterrupted power as directed by the System Operator so that in the event of a disturbance, the national grid can be saved from collapse.

Abdullahi further said residents of Kinkinau, Zango, Kinkinau GRA, Musabaqa, and Yantukwane, under Tudun Wada Area office as well as customers in Asikolaye, Unhuwan Muazu, Sabon Gari, Unguwan Sanusi, and Rigasa under Rigasa Area Office and customers in Mando who have also been experiencing.

The reason according to him was due to inadequate supply to customers feeding from Yantukwane 1KV Band B feeder, Unguwan Muazu 11 KV Band D feeder, and Manfo 11KV Band B feeder due to the need for TCN to maintain the right frequency that will stabilise the national grid to avoid collapse.

 He confirmed that TCN in an attempt to avoid another grid collapse has shut down the supply to the 33KV kinkinau injection sub-station that feeds the two 11KV feeders.

Kaduna Electric stated that the challenge was due to inadequate power generation Nationwide also accentuated the problem.

He said the DisCo and TCN are working to find a lasting solution that will see an improved supply to the affected communities. Other customers affected include Zaria and Barnawa Area offices.

GENCOS

 Dr. Joy Ogaji, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) Managing Director, in a statement released to the media, confirmed that supply from generation to the grid system declined due to inadequate payment by the market operators.

She confirmed that the debt that the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) is owing GenCos is over N1 trillion.

The APGC MD further explained that by Gencos’ contract, the outstanding falls into different categories, adding that it is also payment on Capacities made available and tested by NBET annually.

TCN

Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, failed to respond to messages in respect of the prolonged outages. She claimed that the DisCos did not affirmatively contribute to the load shedding of TCN.

She was silent on other matters relating to a drop in supply from generation with a corresponding decline in the quantum of power transmitted to the DisCos over the last one week.

ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM THE SYSTEM OPERATOR

 EnergyDay’s analysis data obtained from the System Operators(SO) in respect of the GenCos generation trend as of January 18, 2023, showed that peak generation was 4,017.3MW while the lowest generation was 3,651.7MW

The peak generation for January 19 was 3,934.8MW with the lowest generation at 3,472.3MW.

On January 20, peak generation was 3,948MW, compared with the lowest generation of 3,458.8MW achieved during that period.

About 4,1192.8MW peak generation was achieved on January 21, 2022, compared with the lowest peak generation of 3,734MW achieved on that day.

Meanwhile, peak generation for January 22, 2023, increased to 4,2616MW with a corresponding 3,698.8MW lowest generation.

However, the quantum of power distributed by the 11 DisCos as of January 23, 2023, was  3,305MW.

Ikeja Disco received 471MW being the highest while Yola DisCo received 95MW being the lowest power supplied to the DisCos as of 10 am, January, 23,2023.

Allocations to other DisCos include;  Abuja Disco (447MW), Benin Disco(273MW), Eko Disco 411MW,  Enugu Disco 318MW,  Ibadan Disco 402MW, Jos Disco (191MW),  Kaduna Disco (222MW), Kano Disco(235MW) P/Harcourt Disco (240MW).

All-Time peak generation ever attained was 5,801.60MW , as of March 1,2021, while grid generation installed capacity was 13,014.40 as of January 7,2021.