FG Instructs EEDC To Disonnect Uncertified Transformers

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company has been ordered by the Federal Government to immediately disconnect all 33kV and 11kV transformers that it installed in 13 locations without complying with stipulated statutory inspections.

The order was contained in an enforcement notice issued by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, which stated that the directive was in accordance with the provisions of the NEMSA Act, 2015.

It explained that the notice, which was issued to the management of EEDC, was due to the DisCo’s incessant and flagrant disregard for technical standards.

The agency is mandated to enforce installation standards regulations, pursuant to Section 6 (b) of the NEMSA Act.

In the enforcement notice, NEMSA expressed concern over the power firm’s nonchalant attitude to the issues raised and subsequently “directed Enugu DisCo to immediately disconnect the following 33kV and 11kV transformer installations connected without statutory Inspection, testing, and certification by NEMSA.”

It identified the 13 installations to be disconnected by the power firm to include the 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s (substation) at Immigration Services Office Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway, Emene, Enugu; 1x200kVA, 33/0,415kV s/s at Built Mart Plaza, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Independence Layout Phase 2, Enugu; 1x300kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at a palm kernel factory, Centenary City Junction, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Enugu.

Others include the 1x100kVA, 33/0.415kV pole mounted s/s connected to a residential/hotel building along Centenary City Road, before Centenary City gate, off Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Enugu; 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Heliu Estate, opposite Centenary City Junction; 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Plaza opposite Majestic Suites, Centenary Street; 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Centenary Street Junction connected to the RMU.

The agency named others as the 1x300kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Elshammah Estate gate, off Centenary City Road, Enugu; 1x200kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Plaza opposite Jedidiah Estate, off Centenary City Road; 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Emmanuel Garden Estate, off Centenary City Road; and 1x100kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Terisco Oil and Gas Plant, by Army Checkpoint, Independence Layout Bypass, Enugu.

The other equipment to be disconnected by the Disco were the 1x100kVA, 33/0,415kV s/s at NNPC petrol station, Ugwogo-Opi Road before Elim Estate, Enugu; and 1x50kVA, 33/0,415kV s/s at Final Point Hotel, Enugu.

“By the law establishing NEMSA, the agency is authorised to, among other things, enforce compliance with the technical standards for all electrical installations, electrical plants, including power plants and ancillary systems, electricity networks and connectivity to the grid.

“It (NEMSA) is to provide sustained technical inspection, testing and certification of all electrical materials, (including transformer oil and chemicals) or equipment, power systems, networks (generation, transmission and distribution), or electrical installations to be used in the power sector,” the agency stated.

According to NEMSA, this is to ensure a stable system that delivers safe, reliable, regular power supply as well as guarantee the safety of lives and property in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.