NEMSA Draws Battle Line Against Enugu Disco Over Flagrant Disregard  Of Standards

…Orders Disconnection Of Transformers Installations Without Its Certification
 

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has issued
enforcement notice against Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) for its incessant flagrant disregard for technical and Nigerian Electricity Supply and Installation Standards.

The notice is coming in pursuant to the provisions of the NEMSA Act, 2015 and against the backdrop of observed contravention of the NEMSA Act, 2015, and the Nigerian Electricity Supply and Installation Standards Regulation 2015, which NEMSA is mandated to enforce pursuant to section 6 (b) of the NEMSA Act.

A statement from NEMSA management further indicated that the regulatory agency Agency has also called for applications from interested persons for EEDC Electricity Metering Installation Personnel Certification, Electrical Installation Contractors Certification, Renewable Energy Installation Personnel Certification and Electrical Technical Personnel Certification programmes.

Further,  NEMSA expressed concern over the Enugu Discos non-chalant attitude to the issues raised and subsequently directed Enugu Disco to immediately disconnect the following 33kV and 11kV Transformer installations projects connected without statutory Inspection, Testing, and Certification by NEMSA

These include: 1 × 500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s Immigration services office Enugu-Abakaliki expressway, Emene, Enugu; 1x200kVA, 33/0,415kV s/s at built mart plaza, Enugu-PH express way, Independence layout phase2, Enugu; 1x300kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at a palm kernel factory, centenary city junction, Enugu-PH expressway, Enugu;    1x100kVA, 33/0.415kV pole mounted s/s connected to a residential/hotel building along centenary city road, before centenary city gate off Enugu-PH expressway, Enugu.

Also included for disconnection are 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Heliu estate, opposite centenary city junction, Enugu-PH expressway, Enugu; 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at plaza opposite majestic suites, Centenary Street, off centenary city road, Enugu; 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at the centenary street junction connected to the RMU, before centenary city gate, Enugu; 1x300kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Elshammah estate gate, off centenary city road, Enugu; 1x200kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at plaza opposite Jedidiah estate, off centenary city road, Enugu;

Further are 1x500kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Emmanuel Garden estate, off centenary city road, Enugu; 1x100kVA, 33/0.415kV s/s at Terisco oil and gas plant, by army checkpoint, Independence layout bypass, Enugu-PH expressway, Enugu, Enugu state; 1x100kVA, 33/0,415kV s/s at NNPC petrol station, Ugwogo-opi road before Elim estate, Enugu, Enugu state; and 1x50kVA, 33/0,415kV s/s at Final Point Hotel.

NEMSA further explained that by the law establishing it,  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, 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.

It said these were targeted at ensuring a stable system to deliver safe, reliable, regular power supply as well as guarantee safety of lives and property in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

In a related development, NEMSA had granted an extension timeline of six months, for corporate entities participating in the National Mass Metering Program (NMMP) and Meter Asset Providers (MAP) to comply with the directive of obtaining the Metering Personnel Certification.