The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has faulted Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) over its attribution of recent power outages across some Band A feeders to grid instability, describing the claim as inaccurate and misleading.
TCN, in a statement by its management on Friday, November 6, said the outages recorded on November 3 and 4, 2026, were largely caused by reduced electricity generation arising from gas supply constraints and declining hydroelectric output.
The company was reacting to a public notice issued by IKEDC on November 5, in which the distribution company attributed several feeder outages to grid instability and identified TCN as the responsible party.
TCN argued that IKEDC lacked the authority to determine the root causes of disturbances and interruptions on the national grid, citing Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023, which assigns such responsibilities to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
It said NISO had not issued any report attributing the outages in question to TCN.
According to TCN, NISO had clarified on November 5 that the decline in electricity supply was caused by constraints in gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric plants due to lower reservoir inflows.
The company explained that the development reduced available generation, consequently lowering the energy allocated to distribution companies and resulting in fewer hours of electricity supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks.
TCN maintained that the supply shortfall experienced by IKEDC customers was a consequence of reduced generation and subsequent allocation, rather than any failure of its transmission network.
It stressed that its responsibility was to transmit available electricity and that it could not transmit energy that had not been generated.
Providing further details, TCN said its records showed that 68 per cent of interruptions recorded across feeders supplying IKEDC on November 1 and 2 resulted from frequency-control load shedding caused by low generation.
It added that 26 per cent were linked to IKEDC’s failure to comply with load allocations issued by NISO’s National Control Centre (NCC), as well as faults and maintenance activities on the distribution company’s network.
The remaining six per cent, according to TCN, were caused by its planned maintenance, switching operations or line limitations.
The company emphasised that none of the recorded interruptions resulted from equipment failure or a trip on its transmission network.
On the 46 interruptions recorded on the 33kV feeders specifically identified in IKEDC’s notice, TCN said 29 were caused by frequency-control load shedding arising from low generation.
It said another 14 were attributable to IKEDC, comprising nine cases of non-compliance with load allocation and five incidents involving faults or trips on its own network.
The remaining three interruptions, TCN explained, resulted from scheduled maintenance on the Ogba-Alimosho transmission line on November 1.
Citing another example, the company said the Rack Centre feeder was interrupted on November 2 following a cable fault on IKEDC’s network, which was subsequently repaired by the distribution company’s personnel.
TCN also noted that IKEDC’s own notice attributed faults on some feeders, including MTN, Iju Water Works and Rack Centre, to its own network under the designation ‘IE’.
It warned that attributing electricity supply shortfalls caused by generation constraints to transmission failures could mislead consumers, undermine public confidence and divert attention from the actual challenges confronting the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
The company therefore urged IKEDC and other electricity distribution companies to desist from making unverified claims about the causes of supply interruptions.
It advised DisCos to base their public communications on verified information from NISO, which it described as the authorised body responsible for grid operations.
TCN also urged electricity consumers to consult NISO’s official communication platforms for accurate information on developments in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
While sympathising with customers affected by the reduced hours of electricity supply, the company reaffirmed its commitment to transmitting all available energy safely, reliably and efficiently.
It added that it would continue collaborating with NISO, generation companies and distribution companies to address prevailing operational challenges and improve electricity supply across the country.
