More Nigerians are likely to experience power cut in the next few days over delay in payment of N2310 billion owed federal government by power distribution companies, also known as Discos.
The failure to reach an agreement has fueled a possible disconnection of all the Discos by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN the magazine learned last night.
“In the event that the Discos failed to meet the deadline set by the government we will go ahead with the disconnection and this would affect many factories and home,” a TCN official who craved not to be named told the magazine.
The revelation came on the heels of cut in power transmission across the country to barely 3000mgws.
Shortage of power has greatly impacted many homes and factories who depend on the government for energy supply, some consumers told the magazine.
But the situation may even get worse should the federal government and power transmission firms failed to agree within the next few days, energy experts have warned.
Caught in this web are the three major distribution companies in the country: Eko, Enugu and Ikeja.
A source from TCN said “the federal government has directed the three electricity distribution companies to be disconnected from the national grid as a result of “non-compliance with the conditions of market rules.”
In a letter sent to the three companies, the federal government stated that the act will no longer be tolerated.
The noticed sent to Ikeja Disco reads “The restriction of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company intake from the grid through a Disconnection Order to the Transmission Service Provider to disconnect some facilities of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company until the event of default stated in NIISO/2019/003 is remedied.”
To the Enugu Disco the memo reads “That Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is under suspension through market operator issued Order TCN/ISO/MO/002.
That Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has been suspended from the market operator administered market due to an Event of Default that was not remedied.
EEDC was notified of this Event of Default by a Notice of Event of Default (NED/2019/002) dated May 24, 2019.”
A similar directive was issued to the Ikeja Disco whose officials said they are doing everything to meet the deadline set by the federal government.
“Notwithstanding the above, Ikeja Electric assures all its customers and other stakeholders that everything will be done to ensure that there is no deliberate disruption to services,” said Felix Ofolue, head, corporate communications, Ikeja DisCo.
Ofolue assured electricity consumers not to panic as efforts are being made by the parties to resolve the issue.
