By Kelechi Onwujuba
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has faulted Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) over its attribution of recent power supply interruptions to grid instability, insisting that the shortfall experienced by its customers resulted from reduced electricity generation and the corresponding allocation to distribution companies, rather than any failure of the transmission network.
TCN stated this in a statement issued in response to a public notice published by Ikeja Electric on November 5, 2026, in which several Band A feeder outages recorded on November 3 and 4 were attributed to grid instability, with TCN identified as the responsible party.
The transmission company described the attribution as inaccurate and misleading, arguing that Ikeja Electric lacked the authority to independently determine the root causes of disturbances and interruptions on the national grid.
According to TCN, Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023 assigns the responsibility for determining the root causes of disturbances, shortfalls and interruptions on the national grid to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO).
It added that NISO had not issued any determination attributing the outages identified in Ikeja Electric's notice to TCN.
TCN further referred to NISO's public clarification of November 5, 2026, which attributed the decline in electricity generation to constraints in gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric plants due to lower reservoir inflows.
NISO had explained that the constraints reduced available generation, resulting in lower energy allocations to distribution companies, fewer hours of electricity supply and increased load shedding across distribution networks.
TCN maintained that the situation affecting Ikeja Electric's customers was consistent with the nationwide reduction in available generation and did not indicate a failure of its transmission infrastructure.
It stressed that the transmission company could only transmit the electricity generated and made available to it, adding that it could not transmit energy that had not been produced.
Providing further details, TCN said its records covering all feeders supplying Ikeja Electric showed that 68 per cent of the interruptions recorded on November 1 and 2 resulted from frequency-control load shedding caused by low generation.
It said another 26 per cent were attributable to Ikeja Electric's non-compliance with load allocations issued by the National Control Centre (NCC) of NISO, as well as 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.
The company emphasised that none of the recorded interruptions during the period was caused by a TCN equipment fault or trip.
On the specific 33kV feeders listed in Ikeja Electric's notice, TCN said 29 of the 46 recorded interruptions resulted from frequency-control load shedding arising from low generation.
It added that 14 interruptions were recorded against Ikeja Electric, comprising nine cases of non-compliance with load allocation and five cases involving faults or trips on its distribution network.
The remaining three interruptions, TCN explained, were associated with scheduled maintenance carried out on the Ogba–Alimosho line on November 1.
Citing another example, TCN said the Rack Centre feeder was interrupted on November 2 following a cable fault on Ikeja Electric's network, which was subsequently repaired by the distribution company's maintenance team.
It also noted that Ikeja Electric's own public notice attributed several feeder interruptions, including those affecting MTN, Iju Water Works and Rack Centre, to faults on its 33kV network, identified in the notice as Ikeja Electric's responsibility.
TCN said Ikeja Electric's position was inconsistent with the actual state of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), warning that attributing supply shortfalls caused by generation constraints to transmission failures could mislead customers, undermine public confidence and distract from the industry's actual challenges.
The transmission company therefore urged Ikeja Electric and other distribution companies to desist from making unverified claims about the causes of electricity supply interruptions.
It advised DisCos to base their public communications on verified information from NISO, which is responsible for the operation of the national grid.
TCN also urged electricity consumers to consult NISO's official communication channels for accurate updates on the state of the electricity industry.
While expressing sympathy with customers affected by the reduced hours of electricity supply, TCN reaffirmed its commitment to transmitting all available energy safely, reliably and efficiently within prevailing operational constraints.
It added that it would continue working with NISO, generation companies and distribution companies to improve electricity supply across the country.
