Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The national grid continues to struggle with instability in voltage and frequency regulation, according to the Q1 2025 report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.
This ongoing issue threatens the reliability of electricity supply and poses risks to industrial and domestic consumers alike.
During the quarter, the average lower daily system frequency was recorded at 49.28Hz and the average upper daily frequency at 50.77Hz.
Both values fall outside the normal operating limits of 49.75Hz–50.25Hz set by the grid code, although they remain within the broader stress limits of 48.75Hz–51.25Hz.
On the voltage front, the situation was no better. The average lower daily voltage stood at 296.56kV, while the average upper daily voltage peaked at 346.82kV. These values breached the grid code’s lower (313.50kV) and upper (346.50kV) bounds, signalling persistent instability in transmission parameters.
Grid performance is crucial to sustaining efficient electricity flow across Nigeria. Frequency and voltage imbalances not only affect power quality but also lead to equipment failures, blackouts, and reduced industrial productivity.
NERC noted that it continues to pressure the System Operator to address these lapses and improve efficiency.
“The Commission continues to push the SO to improve its system,” the report stated, adding that enhanced system discipline and real-time monitoring are urgently required.
Meanwhile, industry experts have blamed inadequate grid automation, poor infrastructure, and the lack of sufficient spinning reserves for the recurring imbalances.
A stakeholder and YEAC-Nigeria Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, regretted that despite past interventions, the grid remains vulnerable to sudden load changes and frequency excursions.
“Grid instability has also impacted investment sentiment in the sector. Without a stable transmission backbone, private investors in generation and distribution are unable to realize returns or expand operations.
“Efforts by TCN and NERC to modernize the transmission network and deploy smart technologies must be accelerated. Industry operators must also invest in grid-scale battery storage, load forecasting, and contingency planning.”
