Fijabi Olanrewaju
THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has attributed today’s National Electricity Grid collapse to an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and an associated cascade of power plant shutdown arising from the loss of load.
NERC, in a statement, said efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT.
While noting with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outages in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability, NERC says 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.
“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 date and venue of the public hearing will shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate”, the Commission stated.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that for the third time in less than a week, the National Electricity Grid again collapsed this morning throwing Nigerians into total blackouts.
This latest power failure comes on the heels of two earlier collapses in the week. A situation that has put so much pressure on the already fragile power supply system.
The grid collapsed on Monday at 6:48 pm, and at exactly 09:17hrs on Tuesday, the grid again collapsed.
Eighteen-Eleven Media