AEDC, other DisCos apologise as national grid collapses again

Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have pleaded for understanding from their customers as the country plunged into another blackout due to national grid collapse.

The national grid collapsed at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, throwing millions of homes and businesses into darkness.

Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) indicated that the grid collapsed at about 4:00 p.m. and dropped from 2,984 megawatts (MW) to zero in an hour, with all 21 plants connected to the grid ceasing operations by 5:00 p.m.

While confirming the development and explaining the reason for the nationwide blackout, some of the DisCos stated that the grid collapse had caused their feeders to become inactive.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in a statement on Thursday, begged for understanding from its customers after confirming that the current power outage was due to a system failure from the national grid.

“The system collapsed at about 16:28 hours today, March 28, 2024, causing the outage currently being experienced across our franchise area,” AEDC posted on its X handle.

“We appeal for your understanding as all stakeholders are working hard to restore normal supply.”

In a similar notice to its customers, the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) said the system collapse led to a loss of power supply across its network.

“We are currently working with our partners as we hope for a speedy restoration of the grid. As soon as we restore the power supply, we will keep you updated. Kindly bear with us,” EKEDC said.

The latest grid collapse follows similar ones in the past year. In 2023, Nigeria experienced power outages. The national grid collapsed twice in September of that year and once in December.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said the national grid collapsed 12 times in 2023.

“The national grid collapsed 12 times in 2023,” he said during Channels TV’s special end-of-year programme tagged “2023: Year of Transition.”

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