Grid Collapse: Customers Kick As NERC Plans Public Hearing

The plan by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to hold a public hearing over incessant grid collapses has been greeted with criticism by electricity consumers.

The hearing, which is sequel to the collapse that occurred twice within a space of one week, is expected to draw participants from the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) stakeholders, civil society organisations and members of the public.

According NERC on its X handle, “in line with Section 48, subsection 1 of the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is mandated to conduct public hearings on critical issues relating to the Nigerian Electricity Supply In dustry (NESI).

“The Commission has noted with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outage in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.

“In this regard, the Commission hereby invites NESI stakeholders, civil society organisations, and the general public to a hearing scheduled for October 24, 2024.”

However, reacting to the notice, some X users criticised NERC’s management for arranging a public hearing over an issue it should handle internally. James Agada, who reacted to the plan, said: “You don’t need any hearing. You have a management and engineering problem. And no one is paying any price for these collapses. An independent system operator would not make any difference.”

Another customers, Olusina Olayinwola, also said the management of NERC was only looking for an opportunity to spend money, According to him, “they want to spend money now, give out allowances, etc. when the answers is right in their documents. Their new admin wants to be seen as “action” man. When he is just clowning all over the place.

“If you want recognition, promote reforms that put consumers first.” NERC had said that initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred on Saturady indicated that the attendant outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and associated cascade of power plants shutdown arising from the loss of load.

Also reacting, Charles Ezra said: “Those affected in Band A category has to be stepped down immediately and made to buy energy at band B rate. That’s the very minimum. It’s wicked and callous to increase tariff by 300 percent and see consumers suffer this mindless incompetence.

We expect the downgrade immediately.” He also suggested the stepping down of all Band A while awaiting the outcome. According to him, “step all Band A down while we await the outcome of the public hearing and consultation. There has to be consequences for service failure.