Explainer: What is causing current electricity reduction after collapsed power grid has been fixed?
On Monday, March 14, 202?, the national grid collapsed resulting in power outage in most parts of Nigeria. Supply was restored by noon by the Transmission Company of Nigeria. The following day, a system collapse of the national grid also affected other parts of the country.
Although this was resolved too, many parts of the country have experienced reduced power supply since the incident. In the Ogba area of Lagos where residents used to enjoy up to 14 hours daily, it was reduced drastically to an average of three hours. In the Agege area of Lagos, a resident living in Abiodun Sadiku told Neusroom that their area received less than 2-hours of power daily.
Many expected that since the national grid had been fixed and power restored, electricity distribution would return back to normal. That has not been the case.
So what is responsible for the low power distribution which seems to coincide with the collapse of the national grid?
Nigeria generates an average of 5,000 MW of power according to Electricity Generation Companies. However, unutilised power is about 2,000.
Neusroom spoke to Tofa Abdulhakeem who is an Ikeja Electric staff at the Ifako Ijaye office who explained that the current drop in distribution of electricity was due to load shedding.
When the demand for electricity nears available supply levels, it is sometimes necessary to temporarily interrupt the delivery of electricity to maintain the integrity of the electric grid. This is to prevent grid failures which can lead to power outages for customers.
He said: “The current load shedding is necessary to prevent another grid collapse and to keep distribution balanced. If this is not managed, it can lead to another collapse of the grid. What we are doing is in the interest of Nigerians. Things will get back to normal gradually.”
Shedding load is required “when the demand for electricity approaches supply, creating the potential for a dangerous imbalance. It’s a way to help reduce power demand by turning power off to some customers to help prevent longer, larger outages. The immediate reduction of power demand is critical to prevent a catastrophic, extended failure of the larger electrical grid.”
Abdulhakeem added that at the moment, power generation was low which is why the load is being shed so that everyone receives a bit of power while generation is increased.
Ikeja Electric in a response to an enquiry about the power distribution responded:
“Dear Customer, We understand your concerns and we sincerely apologize for all inconvenience.
“The persistent poor power supply you have been experiencing in certain parts of our network is due to load shedding by Transmission as a result of drop in power generation.”
