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.”