Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has absolved itself from being culpable for the current power outages, saying that Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) remains the weakest link in power sector value chain for lack of technical expertise.
However it admitted that some AEDC 33kV feeders tripped Saturday evening (April 25th, 2020) as the rain began, resulting in blackouts in most areas.
TCN had claimed that “As at 19:00 hours on April 25, 2020, due to rainfall, AEDC dropped load and was off taking only 0.5MW and l6MW from TCN’s 330kV substations in Katampe and Gwagwalada respectively.
“All AEDC 33kV feeders were out due to poor distribution network. This will certainly create high voltage that may damage TCN terminal equipment”, TCN stated and advocated for immediate capitalisation of DisCos if the power sector is to be salvaged from imminent collapse.
But AEDC management maintained in a statement that one principal factor that aids the tripping of feeder at any voltage level is the relay setting of such feeders.
It accused TCN of refusing the coordination of their relay settings to give room for professionally determined tolerance level.
According to AEDC, “For a very long time, TCN has resisted a coordination of the setting of their relays in such a way that it will allow for professionally determibed tolerance level. For reasons best known to them (TCN), this coordination has been resisted till now. Thus we ask – is it a case of funds or expertise.
“One of the weakest link in the value chain today is the TCN and this is manifested through the poor protection of its equipment.
“TCN knows it is not immuned from system disturbances, which inevitably affects the operations of the DisCos all over the country. But let us localise by looking at their performance in Abuja in the last 72 hours.”
Further AEDC cited that on the 23rd of April, 2020, four of TCN interface points suffered system disturbances within AEDC franchise Area.
The areas affected include 2x60MVA, 132/33kV Kubwa TS, which was off supply from early morning to late evening hours, affecting power supply to Bwari, Dawaki, part of Gwarinpa, Kubwa and Dei-Dei; Wire cut on 132kV Karu – Keffi line, affecting power supply to the entire Nasarawa state for several hours;1x60MVA , 132/33kV transformer at Okene TS which lasted for several hours affecting power supply to Okene, Kabba, Ososo and environs; and one of the 2x60MVA, 132/33kV transformers at Katampe 2 which was also out for hours, affecting power supply to Wuse 2, Mabushi, Jahi and environs.
Apart from the above, AEDC cited that TCN’s 132kV line 2 from Katampe Transmission Substation to Central Area had been off supply since June, 2019.
It lamented that despite several letters and verbal communication, this has not been resolved, adding that as a result of this fault, AEDC was forced to embark on massive load shedding of customers in the affected areas, which include Central Area, Maitama, Garki, Jabi and environs.
“It is very clear that TCN network is suffering from inadequate protection, as their relays do not trip during disturbances such as wire cut even when they rest on the ground thereby constituting serious danger to members of the public”, AEDC stated.
Report by Optimum Times