Joseph Bakare
As Nigeria strengthens regulatory framework to improve grid stability and operational oversight, privately owned transmission substations connected to Nigeria’s national grid, has been directed to register with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The directive is contained in a statement, titled “Order on the Registration and Authorisation of Grid-Connected Private Transmission Substations (NERC/2026/013)”, that took effect on March 9, 2026.
The order requires owners of private transmission substations used by bulk electricity consumers to obtain an Independent Electricity Transmission Network Operator permit before connecting to or operating on the national grid.
According to NERC, the move is designed to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve grid safety and enhance visibility of electricity flows across Nigeria’s power network.
The Agency said the directive followed repeated transmission line trips reported by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), which manages system operations on the country’s national electricity grid.
Under the order, NISO must submit a comprehensive list of all existing private transmission substation owners to the regulator and notify them of the new rules within five days.
Existing operators are required to apply for the permit within 45 days, while new operators must obtain approval before connecting their facilities to the grid. Failure to comply with the directive could attract regulatory sanctions.
The order also requires the deployment of Internet-of-Things-based metering systems at substation interconnection points within 120 days to improve real-time monitoring of grid operations.
In addition, operators must submit monthly operational reports, while NISO will carry out periodic inspections to ensure compliance with the regulations.
Electricity substations play a critical role in the power system by converting high-voltage electricity transmitted over long distances into lower voltages suitable for distribution to homes, industries and commercial users.
Nigeria’s electricity grid operates mainly on 330 kilovolt and 132 kilovolt transmission lines spanning the country’s six operational regions and managed by the system operator.
In recent years, regulators have introduced several reforms aimed at improving the reliability of the grid and reducing frequent power disruptions. These include orders requiring generation companies to integrate with real-time monitoring systems to improve grid visibility and operational efficiency.
The creation of NISO itself followed reforms in the electricity sector that separated system operation from the Transmission Company of Nigeria to enhance transparency and efficiency in managing the national grid.
The NERC said the latest directive is intended to ensure that all private substations connected to the grid comply with the Grid Code and operate within a clear regulatory framework.
Also, the Agency added that improved monitoring and compliance would help strengthen grid stability and support more reliable electricity supply across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).