Nigeria’s electricity grid operated outside prescribed frequency and voltage limits in October, despite power plants utilising 85 per cent of their available generation capacity, raising fresh concerns about the stability of the country’s fragile power system.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission disclosed this in its October 2026 Operational Performance Factsheet, released on Wednesday, which showed that the grid recorded frequency and voltage levels outside the operational limits set for the electricity network.
NERC said the grid operated outside the prescribed frequency range in October, noting that, “The average lower grid frequency (49.46 Hz) and average upper grid frequency (50.66 Hz) during the month exceeded the prescribed limits (49.75 Hz – 50.25 Hz).”
The regulator also reported similar deviations in voltage, stating that, “The monthly average lower grid voltage (305.00 kV) and average upper grid voltage (353.94 kV) during the month exceeded the prescribed limits (313.50 kV – 346.50 kV).”
The figures indicate that the grid experienced deviations on both sides of the approved operating ranges, even as power plants maintained relatively high utilisation of their available capacity.
NERC’s data showed that average available generation capacity stood at 4,744 megawatts in October, down by 5.85 per cent from the previous month.
Average hourly generation also fell by 1.02 per cent to 4,047MW compared with September, while the average load factor increased by 4.16 per cent to 85 per cent.
The load factor measures how much of a power plant’s available capacity is used to generate electricity over a given period. The October figure means that, on average, power plants generated about 85 per cent of their available capacity.
The performance of individual plants showed that Jebba recorded the highest load factor among the leading generators at 99 per cent, producing an average of 423MW against an available capacity of 429MW.
Omotosho followed with 97 per cent, generating 179MW out of 183MW, while Afam recorded 94 per cent, with average generation of 371MW against an available capacity of 395MW.
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Egbin and Ihovbor each recorded 93 per cent utilisation, while Shiroro posted 89 per cent. Delta and Kainji both recorded 84 per cent, while Okpai achieved 78 per cent.
Odukpani had the lowest load factor among the top 10 plants, at 66 per cent, generating 202MW against an available capacity of 305MW.
Other grid-connected plants also recorded varying levels of performance. Olorunsogo 1 posted a 97 per cent load factor, while Sapele Steam recorded 95 per cent. Kashambila achieved 99 per cent, while Trans Amadi and Dadin-Kowa were reported at 100 per cent.
NERC explained that load factors of 100 per cent or above could occur when the System Operator directs generating companies to maximise output beyond their declared steady-state availability to support grid stability.
The commission’s factsheet showed that Zungeru had an average available capacity of 261MW and generated 168MW, representing a 65 per cent load factor.
Alaoji recorded no available capacity or generation during the month, while Afam 1 posted a 32 per cent load factor. Ibom Power recorded no generation, with an average available capacity of 2MW.
The latest figures highlight the challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity sector, where inadequate generation, transmission constraints and distribution bottlenecks have continued to limit reliable power supply to households and businesses.
Although high utilisation of available plant capacity suggests that generators used a substantial share of the electricity they could produce, the decline in available capacity and deviations in grid frequency and voltage underline the difficulty of maintaining a stable electricity network.
Frequency and voltage control are essential to the safe operation of the grid. Significant deviations can affect power quality, damage electrical equipment and trigger the disconnection of generating units or other network components, potentially worsening supply disruptions.
