Posted on Jan 10, 2020
Don’t revoke our licences, Discos beg NERC
Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja
The total quantum of electricity generated on the national grid since the beginning of 2020 reached a peak of 4,898.2 megawatts on Wednesday, latest industry data obtained on Thursday in Abuja showed.
Findings from the Federal Ministry of Power showed that the grid had opened the year 2020 with a peak power generation of 4,678.8MW, while the lowest quantum of energy generated on the same day was put at 3,399.3MW.
This came as the Transmission Company of Nigeria energised a new 100MVA 132/33kV power transformer installed in Ogba Transmission Substation, Lagos State.
Further analysis of the eight-day power generation report since 2020 began showed that the lowest quantum of electricity generated during the period was 2,461.1MW.
This figure was recorded on January 3, while the peak power generation on the same day was 4,406.8MW.
Our correspondent, however, observed that on January 8 when the grid recorded the highest peak of 4,898.2MW, it also witnessed a lowest generation figure of 3,345.8MW.
On the new 100MVW 132/33kV transformer in Lagos, the TCN stated that the facility was installed on January 7, 2020.
The company’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated that prior to the installation of the 100MVA transformer, the Ogba substation had a total of two units of 60MVA 132/33kV transformers and one unit of 45MVA 132/33kV mobile power transformer.
In another development, power distribution companies have shown the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission reasons why their licences should not be cancelled by the regulator.
On November 6, 2019, The PUNCH reported a declaration by the NERC that power distribution companies had till December 7, 2019 to submit written responses providing reasons why their licences should not be cancelled.
The commission had issued a cancellation notice to eight power distribution companies in October last year and mandated them to respond within 60 days; otherwise their licences would be cancelled.
It named the eight firms as Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Ikeja, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt and Yola Discos.
The NERC had stated that the Discos breached the terms and conditions of their respective distribution licences based on the provisions of Electric Power Sector Reform Act and the 2016 – 2018 Minor Review of Multi Year Tariff Order and Minimum Remittance Order for the Year.
The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, an umbrella body for the Discos, Sunday Oduntan, told our correspondent that the power firms had complied with the directive of the commission.
The NERC spokesperson, Usman Arabi, confirmed that the commission had been meeting with the affected power distributors.
Copyright PUNCH.