The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 stated that arcing on the Benin-Egbin 330kV isolator caused lines tripping and consequent loss of electricity supply to some areas on Monday.

The TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, made this known in a statement released on Tuesday.

She said: “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), hereby notes that at about 6:10 p.m. yesterday, 5th August 2024, power supply was restored to areas that had been affected by the arcing on the Benin-Egbin 330kV isolator which caused lines tripping and consequent loss of supply to some areas."

Arcing is an electrical discharge that happens when electrons flow between two conductors, usually metal, in an environment with a gas or vacuum.

Recall that on Monday, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in a post on its X handle stated that the national grid collapsed around 2:55 pm on Monday, with generation dropping significantly.

However TCN, in a statement noted that contrary to media reports, the incident did not cause a system collapse.

“The line tripping started earlier at about 2:47 p.m. yesterday, with a heavy system surge that led to the arcing of Benin – Egbin 330kV line isolator fingers at the Egbin transmission substation switchyard.

“To ensure that the sequence of events does not affect the nation’s grid, the Osogbo – Ihovbor 330kV line was opened to temporarily cut off the flow of electricity on that line.

“At about 2:56 p.m., however, the Benin-Egbin 330kV line 1 Circuit Breaker also tripped at the Benin transmission substation end and this resulted in the loss of supply to Lagos axis, parts of the South West region, parts of the North Central and Abuja.

“The line tripping was quickly rectified, enabling the grid controller to restore full bulk power supply through the transmission lines at about 6.10 p.m. yesterday,” she said.