NERC sets deadline for Gencos grid integration

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has set a deadline for all power generation companies to fully integrate their operations with the national Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management Systems by December 31, 2025.

NERC said the deadline was mandatory and require all Gencos to comply or face
serious financial penalties and possible disconnection from the national grid.

This directive is contained in a new regulatory framework titled “Order on the Mandatory Integration of Grid-Connected Generating Units into the New SCADA/EMS for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry”, and obtained from the commission on Wednesday in Abuja.

The order seeks to strengthen real-time monitoring of the power grid, improve operational efficiency, enhance load dispatch, and reduce nationwide system disturbances by ensuring full visibility of electricity generation across the country.

The order signed by the NERC Chairman, Garba Sanusi, and Vice Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, took effect from May 22, 2025.

The national grid has in recent years experienced several collapses, often traced to inadequate coordination between generation, transmission, and distribution assets.

A functional SCADA/EMS, which acts as the central nervous system of grid operations, enables automated controls, timely fault detection, and live monitoring of generation output. However, many GenCos are still not fully connected to this system.

To address this, NERC’s new order compels power generators to install SCADA-compliant data acquisition devices, ensure compatibility with the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s protocols, and allow remote visibility by the Nigerian Independent System Operator.

The order read, “Pursuant to Section 12.2 of the Grid Code for the Nigeria Electricity Transmission System (the “Grid Code” or the “Code”), all the generation companies are mandated to provide real-time operational data to the Nigerian Independent System Operator through the SCADA/EMS to facilitate effective grid management.

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