The challenges facing power supply in Nigeria deepened as suspected vandals knocked down four transmission towers along the Jos-Gombe 330kV transmission line.
“According to a statement from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, or TCN, after the 330kV transmission line tripped, its operators tried to put it back online, but it tripped again, so TCN linesmen were sent to trace the line in order to identify and fix the problem.
“TCN’s engineering team found that certain tower members had been hauled away and that towers 288, 289, 290, and 291 had been vandalised during fault tracing. In addition, the event caused the towers to fall equally.
Disruption in Electricity Supply
“Parts of the franchise areas of Yola and Jos Electricity Distribution Companies are currently without bulk power due to disruptions in the bulk power supply to the Gombe, Yola, and Jalingo Substations.”
TCN reported that it was attempting to backfeed Gombe through its 132kV transmission line from Bauchi and then Ashaka, Potiskum, Damaturu, and Billiri/Savannah in an effort to lessen the impact of the incident on affected electrical users.
Jerrymusa.com reports that upon verifying the data provided by the Independent System Operator, it was discovered that although the nation’s electricity grid stayed steady, its generation capacity decreased somewhat to 3,722 megawatts at 3 p.m. yesterday, from 4,065 MW the day before.
In the meantime, the administration of Ekiti State has been given permission by the Nigerian Energy Regulatory Commission, or NERC, to assume control of the state’s energy market.
The Ekiti State Energy Regulatory Bureau (EERB) will take over regulatory supervision of the energy market in Ekiti State from the Commission, according to a statement from the Commission.
Benin Electricity Distribution Company and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company were instructed by NERC to establish subsidiaries in Ekiti State in order to conduct business there.
According to the Commission, it will continue to serve as the primary regulatory body, supervising interstate and international generation, transmission, supply, trading, and system operations.