TCN Sustains Power Supply as Live-Line Maintenance Boosts Zaria–Funtua 132kV Transmission Line By Raymond Enoch
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has successfully completed a major live-line maintenance operation on the Zaria–Funtua 132kV transmission line without interrupting electricity transmission, reinforcing efforts to improve the reliability and stability of Nigeria’s national grid.
The operation, carried out by TCN’s Kaduna Region Live-Line Maintenance Crew from July 4 to July 7, 2026, involved the replacement of damaged glass disc insulators on critical sections of the transmission line while it remained fully energized.
Unlike conventional maintenance that often requires shutting down transmission lines and disrupting power supply, the live-line exercise enabled TCN engineers to carry out the repairs safely without disconnecting the line from the national grid, ensuring uninterrupted bulk power delivery to electricity distribution companies and consumers.
During the operation, engineers replaced faulty glass disc insulators with a combination of high-performance polymer and glass disc insulators on eight transmission towers—T14, T17, T40, T63, T78, T175, T177 and T178. Each of the affected towers had at least five damaged insulators that had the potential to compromise the reliability of the transmission infrastructure if left unattended.
The replacement of the defective components restores the mechanical strength and insulation integrity of the affected towers, reducing the risk of faults and improving the overall resilience of the transmission line.
The successful completion of the maintenance demonstrates TCN’s growing technical capability in deploying advanced live-line maintenance techniques that allow critical infrastructure to be serviced without compromising power supply.
The achievement also reflects the company’s continued commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s transmission network through proactive maintenance, improved asset management and the adoption of modern engineering practices aimed at enhancing grid reliability and operational efficiency.
With the exercise concluded without any outage, TCN has once again demonstrated its resolve to deliver a more stable, efficient and dependable electricity transmission system while minimizing disruptions to customers and supporting the country’s expanding power sector.
