TCN faults IKEDC over grid instability claims ….says gas shortage responsible for power cuts

By Onu Okorie

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has rejected claims by Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) attributing recent electricity outages on some Band A feeders to grid instability, insisting that the disruptions were largely caused by inadequate power generation rather than failures of its transmission network.
TCN described IKEDC’s attribution as inaccurate and misleading, urging electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to obtain verified information from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) before communicating the causes of electricity supply interruptions to their customers.
In a statement reacting to a public notice issued by IKEDC on November 5, 2026, concerning outages recorded on November 3 and 4, TCN said the distribution company had wrongly identified it as the party responsible for the interruptions.
The transmission company argued that, under Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023, determining the root causes of disturbances, generation shortfalls and interruptions on the national grid falls within the functions of NISO.
It maintained that IKEDC, like other participants in the electricity market, lacked the authority to independently determine the causes of national grid disturbances.
TCN further noted that NISO had not issued any statement attributing the outages identified in IKEDC’s notice to failures of the transmission network.
Rather, it said NISO, in its clarification issued on November 5, attributed the decline in electricity generation to inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric plants caused by lower water inflows into reservoirs.
According to TCN, the generation constraints had reduced the volume of electricity available for allocation to DisCos, resulting in shorter supply hours and increased load shedding across distribution networks.
It explained that the volume of electricity supplied to consumers depended on available generation and the corresponding allocations to individual distribution companies.
TCN insisted that the electricity shortfall experienced by IKEDC customers was therefore a consequence of reduced generation and lower energy allocation, rather than any failure of its transmission infrastructure.
“TCN can only transmit the energy made available to it and cannot transmit energy that is not generated,” the company stated.
To support its position, TCN presented operational records covering interruptions across feeders supplying IKEDC, particularly those recorded on November 1 and 2.
It disclosed that 68 per cent of the interruptions during the period resulted from frequency-control load shedding occasioned by low electricity generation.
Another 26 per cent were attributed to IKEDC’s failure to comply with load allocations issued by NISO’s National Control Centre (NCC), as well as faults and maintenance works on the distribution company’s own network.
The remaining six per cent, according to TCN, resulted from its planned maintenance, switching operations or line limitations.
It stressed that none of the recorded interruptions was caused by equipment failure or tripping on its transmission network.
Providing further details on the feeders specifically identified in IKEDC’s public notice, TCN said that out of 46 interruptions recorded on the affected 33kV feeders, 29 were caused by frequency-control load shedding arising from low generation.
Fourteen interruptions were traced to IKEDC’s network, comprising nine instances of non-compliance with load allocation and five cases involving faults or trips on its own infrastructure.
The remaining three interruptions were linked to scheduled TCN maintenance on the Ogba–Alimosho transmission line on November 1.
TCN also cited the Rack Centre feeder as an example, explaining that its interruption on November 2 resulted from a cable fault on IKEDC’s network, which was subsequently repaired by the distribution company’s technical team.
It added that IKEDC’s own public notice had identified some affected feeders, including MTN, Iju Water Works and Rack Centre, as having experienced 33kV faults attributable to the distribution company.
The transmission company warned that attributing generation-related electricity shortages to transmission failures could mislead consumers, undermine public confidence in the electricity industry and divert attention from the actual challenges affecting power supply.
It urged IKEDC and other DisCos to desist from making unsubstantiated claims about the causes of electricity interruptions, stressing the need for accurate and transparent communication within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
TCN also advised electricity consumers to rely on NISO’s official communication channels for verified information on the operational state of the national grid.
Despite the disagreement, the company expressed sympathy with consumers affected by the reduced hours of electricity supply, assuring that it remained committed to transmitting all available electricity safely, reliably and efficiently.
It added that it would continue working with NISO, generation companies and distribution companies to address the challenges confronting the sector.
The dispute highlights the growing accountability challenge within Nigeria’s electricity market, particularly the need for clear identification of responsibilities among generation, transmission and distribution operators.
With consumers bearing the consequences of reduced generation through prolonged outages and load shedding, the disagreement between TCN and IKEDC also raises questions about transparency, regulatory oversight and the accuracy of information supplied to electricity customers.
The clarification by NISO and the operational records presented by TCN place renewed emphasis on the need for evidence-based reporting of power outages, rather than shifting responsibility among market operators.