Why we informed GENCOs to reduce generation —TCN

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), said the recent high system frequency, demanded corrective measures, joined with the rejection to take more loads by Distribution Companies, DISCOs, forced it to notify GENCOs to lessen generation.

TCN’s enlightenment followed the allegation by Lamu Audu, who is the Managing Director of Mainstream Energy Solutions, Workers of Jebba and Kainji Hydro Electricity Plants, that GENCOs could no longer stand the continuous reduction of energy production on the orders of the TCN.

Audu said that between February and today, Monday, March 13, 2017, Jebba and Kainji alone lost about 8,574 MW unutilized electricity.

He also stated the total unutilized energy from all the GENCOs within the period under evaluation was huge and most painful at a time most Nigerian homes and businesses barely had adequate power supply to meet their consumption needs.

TCN, however, in a statement released and signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Seun Olagunju, said in overall, electricity was not stored but utilized as it was being produced.

Olagunju stated: “Recently, high system frequency (more than 50HZ) has been observed, necessitating corrective measures. The options to bring down the frequency to 50Hz are:(a) Distribution Companies to absorb more load, (b) Generation Companies to reduce generation.

“The first option is the appropriate line of action. However, due to inexplicable reasons, some DISCOs failed to take more load as generation increases. This has left the system operator with no other option than to ask the GENCOs to reduce generation to ensure grid stability.

“The directive to GENCOs to reduce generation is imperative to maintain the integrity of the grid, as frequency higher than 50HZ could result in system disturbance.

“It is important to note that the directives are issued with a high sense of duty and responsibility to the nation and the entire electricity industry.

“The system operator’s decision is based on the fact that at normal operating frequency of 50Hz, the active power generated is equal to the active load consumed and losses.

“However, if the generated power is more than the load connected, the frequency rises higher than 50Hz, which can result in system disturbance.

“To correct this imbalance, the system operator, whose duty it is to maintain system stability, has no choice than to ask the generating stations to drop the load to sustain the network integrity.

“This is the practice all over the world. On the contrary, if the load connected is higher than the generated power, the frequency drops below 50Hz and can also lead to system collapse.”