The Federal Government, via the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has announced ongoing discussions to transfer the management of the national grid to an Independent System Operator, as outlined in the Electricity Act 2023. This move aims to enhance discipline in grid management.NERC also confirmed that the recent collapse of the national grid early Saturday was due to an explosion at the Jebba transmission station. As of 1 PM on Saturday, significant progress had been made in restoring power, with electricity returned to 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.This marks the third national grid collapse within a week, following similar incidents earlier on Monday and Tuesday during restoration efforts. In a statement shared on its official X account, NERC expressed concern over the increasing frequency of grid disturbances leading to substantial outages.The commission’s statement noted, “NERC observes with concern the recent rise in grid disturbances, which have resulted in notable outages across many states, ultimately reversing recent advancements in reducing infrastructure deficits and enhancing grid stability.”The statement further mentioned, “Initial reports indicate that today’s outage was triggered by the explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 08:15 hours, followed by a cascading shutdown of power plants due to the loss of load.”Despite the challenges, the commission noted that efforts to restore power were progressing, with significant restoration achieved by 1 PM on Saturday in 33 states and the FCT.NERC also announced plans for an investigative public hearing to explore both immediate and underlying causes of the recurring grid disturbances and outages. In alignment with the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator function from the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc is underway, with the expectation that this transition to an Independent System Operator will improve grid management and optimize infrastructure investment.The commission will soon provide details on the date and venue for the public hearing, encouraging stakeholder participation in addressing these ongoing issues.
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