By Nkechi Eze
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has accused Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) of misleading electricity consumers by attributing recent outages affecting Band A feeders to grid instability, insisting that the disruptions were largely caused by reduced power generation arising from gas supply constraints and lower hydroelectric output.
According to an official statement issued by TCN Management, the company was reacting to a public notice published by IKEDC on November 5, 2026, in which several Band A feeder outages recorded on November 3 and 4 were attributed to grid instability and blamed on the transmission company.
TCN described the attribution as inaccurate and misleading, arguing that the determination of the root causes of disturbances, generation shortfalls and interruptions on the national grid falls within the statutory functions of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), as provided under Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023.
The transmission company maintained that IKEDC, like other electricity distribution companies (DisCos), lacked the authority to independently determine the causes of grid disturbances, stressing that NISO had not attributed the outages mentioned in IKEDC’s notice to TCN.
It explained that NISO, in its public clarification issued on November 5, attributed the decline in electricity generation to constraints in gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric stations due to lower reservoir inflows.
According to TCN, the development had reduced available generation, resulting in lower energy allocations to distribution companies, fewer hours of electricity supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks.
The company insisted that the shortfall in electricity supply to IKEDC customers was a consequence of reduced generation and subsequent energy allocation rather than any failure of its transmission network.
TCN further disclosed that its operational 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 said another 26 per cent were attributable to IKEDC’s non-compliance with load allocation directives from NISO’s National Control Centre or faults and maintenance works on the distribution company’s network.
The remaining six per cent, according to TCN, resulted from its planned maintenance, switching operations or line limitations, adding that none of the recorded interruptions was caused by a TCN equipment fault or trip.
Providing further details on the 33kV feeders identified in IKEDC’s notice, TCN said 29 out of 46 recorded interruptions resulted from frequency-control load shedding arising from low generation.
It added that 14 interruptions were recorded against IKEDC, comprising nine cases of non-compliance with load allocation and five faults or trips on its own network, while the remaining three involved scheduled TCN maintenance on the Ogba-Alimosho line on November 1.
The company also cited the Rack Centre feeder, which it said was interrupted on November 2 by a cable fault on IKEDC’s network and subsequently repaired by the distribution company’s crew.
It further noted that IKEDC’s own notice attributed several feeder interruptions, including those affecting MTN, Iju Water Works and Rack Centre, to faults on its distribution network.
TCN warned that attributing supply shortfalls caused by generation constraints to transmission failures could misinform electricity consumers, undermine public confidence and obscure the actual challenges confronting the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
It therefore urged IKEDC and other distribution companies to desist from making unverified claims about the causes of electricity supply disruptions, advising them to base their public communications on verified information from NISO, the agency responsible for grid operations.
The transmission company also advised electricity consumers to consult NISO’s official communication platforms for accurate information on developments in the electricity industry.
While expressing sympathy with customers experiencing reduced hours of electricity supply, TCN reaffirmed its commitment to transmitting all available energy safely, reliably and efficiently within prevailing operational constraints, while working with NISO, generation companies and distribution companies to improve electricity supply.
