Abuja Power Cut: TCN Clarify 330kV Line Trip, Blames Low Generation By Raymond Enoch
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has denied claims that the current electricity supply challenges in Abuja were caused by the tripping of 330kV transmission lines supplying the Federal Capital Territory from the Shiroro Transmission Substation.
A statement signed by Management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and dated August 26, 2026, said the reduction in power allocation to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) was caused by low electricity generation on the national grid, insisting that no 330kV transmission line supplying the Abuja axis had tripped.
The clarification followed a public notice issued by AEDC on August 26, 2026, informing its customers of prevailing electricity supply constraints.
In the notice, AEDC attributed a significant reduction in its power allocation—from approximately 641 megawatts (MW) to 314MW—to the alleged tripping of transmission lines supplying Abuja from the Shiroro Transmission Substation.
But TCN rejected the explanation, describing the claim as “inaccurate and misleading.”
According to the transmission company, the reduction in AEDC’s allocation had nothing to do with a fault or tripping on its transmission network.
“TCN wishes to state that this claim is inaccurate and misleading, as the reduction was a result of low generation on the grid and not in any way a TCN line tripping,” the company said.
TCN further disclosed that all 330kV transmission lines within the Abuja Region are currently in circuit, stressing that there had been no tripping of the transmission lines supplying the Abuja axis as alleged by AEDC.
The company therefore maintained that the reduced allocation to AEDC, and the subsequent load shedding being experienced across its feeders, could not be attributed to any alleged failure of TCN’s 330kV transmission infrastructure within the Abuja Region.
“TCN therefore wishes to clarify that the reported reduction in AEDC’s allocation and the resultant load shedding across its feeders cannot be attributed to the alleged tripping of TCN’s 330kV transmission lines within the Abuja Region,” the statement said.
TCN also stressed the importance of accurate and clear information dissemination, particularly when communicating electricity supply challenges to consumers.
The transmission company reiterated its commitment to efficiently transmitting available bulk electricity across the country while maintaining the stability, reliability and integrity of Nigeria’s national transmission grid.
