The Federal Government has ordered the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to immediately disconnect all transformers with voltage ratings of 33kV and 11kV installed in 13 different locations.
According to The Punch, the new development was revealed through an enforcement notice issued by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency following the company’s failure to adhere to the necessary statutory inspections.
The agency said the order is in line with the provisions stated in the NEMSA Act of 2015, emphasizing the importance of compliance with technical standards and regulations.
The enforcement notice was specifically directed to the management of EEDC due to the company’s recurring disregard for technical standards. NEMSA highlighted that this disregard for standards is a clear violation of the NEMSA Act of 2015 and the Nigerian Electricity Supply and Installation Standards Regulation of 2015.
The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency is entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing regulations related to installation standards, as mandated by Section 6 (b) of the NEMSA Act.
The enforcement notice issued by NEMSA raised concerns about the power company’s lackadaisical attitude towards the raised issues. Consequently, NEMSA instructed Enugu DisCo to immediately disconnect the 33kV and 11kV transformer installations that were connected without undergoing the mandatory inspection, testing, and certification by NEMSA.
It says, the directive “followed 33kV and 11kV transformer installations connected without statutory Inspection, testing, and certification by NEMSA.”
The Agency stated, “By the law establishing NEMSA, the agency is authorized 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.”
NEMSA has directed Enugu DisCo to disconnect various installations immediately. These installations include a 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV substation located at the Immigration Services Office along Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway in Emene, Enugu.
Additionally, a 1x200kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Built Mart Plaza in Independence Layout Phase 2, Enugu, and a 1x300kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at a palm kernel factory situated at Centenary City Junction on Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway were mentioned.
According to the report, the enforcement notice listed other installations to be disconnected, such as a 1x100kVA, 33/0.415kV pole-mounted s/s connected to a residential/hotel building before the Centenary City gate, off Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Also, a 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Heliu Estate opposite Centenary City Junction, a 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Plaza opposite Majestic Suites on Centenary Street, and a 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Centenary Street Junction connected to the RMU were also mentioned.
Other installations named by the agency for disconnection include a 1x300kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at the entrance gate of Elshammah Estate, off Centenary City Road in Enugu, a 1x200kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Plaza opposite Jedidiah Estate, off Centenary City Road, and a 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Emmanuel Garden Estate, also off Centenary City Road. Additionally, a 1x100kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Terisco Oil and Gas Plant, located by the Army Checkpoint on Independence Layout Bypass in Enugu, was mentioned.
The enforcement notice further identified two other transformers to be disconnected by the power company, namely a 1x100kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at the NNPC petrol station on Ugwogo-Opi Road before Elim Estate in Enugu, and a 1x50kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Final Point Hotel in Enugu.
