Power Generation Plummets by 32.3% to 2,775MW

In a major setback for Nigeria’s power sector, electricity generation dropped significantly to 2,775 megawatts (MW) yesterday, marking a 32.3% decline from the 4,099.87MW recorded last week. This sharp drop comes amidst ongoing debates surrounding the recent electricity tariff hike and the persistent issue of inadequate power supply.

The Nigeria Electricity System Operator (NESO), a semi-autonomous division of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), reported these figures, raising concerns about the nation’s electricity value chain. Despite the recent review of Band A power consumers’ billing, there has been little improvement in power supply due to insufficient gas provision to thermal stations and the deteriorating state of transmission lines. Since the beginning of the year, generation has averaged around 4,200 megawatts.

As of 6 p.m. yesterday, the Independent System Operator (ISO) indicated that load allocation to the eleven Distribution Companies (DisCos) totaled 2,775MW. Abuja Disco received the highest allocation at 428MW, while Ikeja Electric followed closely with 422MW. Eko Disco received 359MW, Ibadan Disco got 335MW, Benin Disco took 227MW, and Enugu Disco was allocated 200MW. Meanwhile, Yola Disco received the lowest allocation at 79MW, with other companies such as Jos Disco, Kaduna Disco, Kano Disco, and Port Harcourt Disco also experiencing low allocations.

This disparity in power generation and distribution has led to a significant gap in the nation’s power supply, forcing DisCos to implement load shedding measures to fairly distribute the limited electricity to different regions.

In response, some DisCos, such as Ibadan Disco, have taken to social media to issue apologies and explanations to customers. In a public announcement titled “List of Band A feeders with Unmet Hours of Service (April 11, 2024),” Ibadan Disco expressed regret over their inability to meet estimated supply hours due to earth faults on 33kV lines, reaffirming their commitment to improving supply reliability.