Nigeria’s national grid operated outside the prescribed limits for both frequency and voltage in October 2026, even as power plants put 85 per cent of their available capacity to use, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The commission disclosed this in its October 2026 Operational Performance Factsheet released on Wednesday, which breaks down how grid-connected power plants performed during the month.
NERC said average available capacity stood at 4,744 megawatts (MW), while average hourly generation was 4,047MW. This means 85 per cent of available generation capacity was utilised.
The average load factor rose by 4.16 per cent, while average hourly generation fell by 1.02 per cent and average available capacity dropped by 5.85 per cent.
Jebba_1 recorded the highest load factor at 99 per cent, generating 423MW against a capacity of 429MW. It was followed by Omotosho_1 at 97 per cent (179MW out of 183MW) and Afam_2 at 94 per cent (371MW out of 395MW).
Other top energy producers included Egbin_1 and Ihovbor_2, each at 93 per cent, and Shiroro_1 at 89 per cent. Delta_1 and Kainji_1 each recorded 84 per cent, while Okpai_1 stood at 78 per cent.
Odukpani_1 had the lowest load factor among the top producers at 66 per cent, generating 202MW against 305MW capacity.
On frequency stability, the commission said the average lower grid frequency of 49.46 Hz and the average upper grid frequency of 50.66 Hz exceeded the prescribed operational range of 49.75 Hz to 50.25 Hz.
On voltage, the monthly average lower grid voltage of 305.00 kilovolts (kV) and the average upper grid voltage of 353.94kV also went beyond the prescribed range of 313.50kV to 346.50kV.
Among other plants on the grid, Olorunsogo_1 and Sapele Steam_1 posted high load factors of 97 per cent and 95 per cent respectively. Kashambila recorded 99 per cent, while Trans Amadi_1 and Dadin-Kowa_1 were both reported at full utilisation.
Zungeru_1 had an average available capacity of 261MW and generated 168MW, a load factor of 65 per cent. Alaoji_1 recorded zero available capacity and zero generation for the month, while Afam_1 posted a load factor of 32 per cent and Ibom Power_1 recorded none.
The grid total for the month was 4,744MW of available capacity and 4,047MW of average hourly generation, representing 85 per cent utilisation.
