Electricity Generation Companies have reported a loss of N110.56bn in the first half of 2026 to stranded electricity, Daily Trust can report.

Our correspondent reports that stranded electricity is generated electricity or power capacity that cannot be delivered, sold, or used due to a lack of transmission lines, remote geographic locations, or low local demand.

In a document, the GenCos said the grid lost an average of 3,124.50 megawatt of electricity that could not be utilised due to the inefficiency of the national grid.

A breakdown showed that 2,985MW was stranded in the month of January leading to a loss of N18.10bn while 3,274MW was stranded in February, resulting in N17.93bn loss.

In March 3,650MW of electricity could not be evacuated and it cost the GenCos N22.13bn in revenue while 3,193MW was stranded in April leading to N18.74bn loss.

For May, the electricity not utilized was 2,710MW with a cost of N16.43bn which increased to 2,935MW in June and cost N17.22bn.

TCN defends self

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has denied claims that it is responsible for the loss of electricity supply, insisting that data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) showed generation shortfalls, not grid limitations, remain the biggest obstacle to improved power supply.

In a statement, TCN challenged recent claims by the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), that more than 2,500 megawatts of electricity are stranded daily because the national grid can only wheel about 4,500MW despite an installed generation capacity exceeding 15,500MW.

Describing the narrative as inconsistent with NERC’s audited First Quarter 2026 report, TCN argued that the regulator’s own data shows Generation Companies (GenCos) declared an average available generation capacity of only 4,457.96MW during the period, virtually the same figure APGC described as the grid’s transmission limit.

According to TCN, the NERC report also puts the combined installed capacity of the 28 grid-connected power plants at 13,625MW, well below the over 15,500MW cited by APGC.

The company maintained that its verified transmission wheeling capacity currently stands at 8,700MW following extensive investments in transmission infrastructure, including transformers, substations and transmission lines.

It said the network had already demonstrated its capability by successfully transmitting a historic peak generation of 5,801.84MW on March 4, 2025, alongside a record daily energy delivery of 128,370.75MWh.

TCN further pointed to NERC’s Plant Availability Factor, which stood at just 32.72 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, indicating that more than two-thirds of installed generation capacity was unavailable for dispatch because of gas shortages, maintenance outages and mechanical faults at power stations.

Why stranded electricity will remain – Expert

Speaking with Daily Trust, the President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo said the issue of stranded capacity has been an issue since the privatisation era in 2013.

He said there is no clarity on who pays for it between the GenCos or the consumers.

He said stranded generation will continue if the grid is not strengthened to meet capacity of generation and DisCos stopped from rejecting load.

“The situation will persist with grid constraints when generation is readily available and the other parties are not ready to pick,” he said. (Daily Trust)

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