NERC: 56 Electricity-related Accidents, 29 Fatalities Recorded in Q3
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Again, the power sector recorded dozens of electricity-related mishaps in the third quarter of 2024, with accidents occurring during the period being 56, and number of deaths resulting from the hazards hitting 29.
The power sector regulator in Nigeria, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), disclosed this in its recently released third quarter report on the state of the industry in Nigeria.
Nigeria has one of the highest mortality rates from electricity accidents in the world. The country’s inadequate and aging electricity infrastructure, combined with a lack of safety measures and enforcement, contribute to this alarming trend.
The country’s rate is significantly higher than the global average, with Nigeria ranking among the top 10 countries with the highest electricity-related fatality rates. In addition to fatalities, many Nigerians are injured each year due to electricity accidents, with many suffering from severe burns, electrocution, and other trauma.
The causes of these accidents include aging infrastructure and lack of safety measures at electricity installations, including insulation, earthing, and circuit breakers as well as absence of strict compliance to extant health and safety regulations.
According to NERC, the electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) like in previous reports, were largely responsible for the accidents, with Generation Companies (Gencos) bearing just a negligible portion of the mishaps on their facilities.
The NERC document pointed out that virtually all the Discos recorded accidents in the months spanning July, August and September 2024, with Ibadan Disco taking the lion’s share.
“During the quarter (2024/Q3), only Egbin recorded a casualty among the Gencos while among the Discos, NESCO was the only Disco that did not record any casualty. Out of the 57 casualties reported in the quarter, the licensee with the highest number of casualties was Ibadan (11),” NERC reported.
According to NERC Ibadan Disco was closely followed by Kaduna (10) and Abuja (7) DisCos which represented 19.30 per cent, 17.54 per cent, and 12.28 per cent of the total respectively.
“As observed in previous quarters, Discos continue to account for the majority of the safety challenges experienced in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
“Cumulatively, they accounted for 92.98 per cent of casualties recorded in 2024/Q3, having accounted for 98.48 per cent, 96.30 per cent and 100 per cent in 2023/Q4, 2024/Q1 and 2024/Q2 respectively,” NERC added.
Furthermore, NERC observed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) recorded 22 and Jos DisCo recorded one damage to property and infrastructure due to explosions, fire outbreaks or acts of vandalism in 2024/Q3.
However, relative to 2024/Q2, the number of accidents, NERC stressed, decreased by 11.11 per cent (63 to 56), the number of fatalities decreased by 14.71 per cent (34 to 29), while the number of injuries increased by 64.71 per cent (17 to 28).
Pursuant to Section 34(1)(e) of the Electricity Act (EA) 2023 which mandates the commission to “ensure the provision of safe and reliable electricity to consumers”, NERC noted that it continues to monitor the health and safety performance of the NESI.
It stated that licensees are mandated to submit monthly health and safety reports to the commission in accordance with the requirements of their licence.
In 2024/Q3, out of the 99 mandatory health and safety reports expected to be received from licensees, NERC disclosed that only 96 reports were received.
“The commission will continue to enforce 100 per cent reporting compliance by licensees as contained in the terms and conditions of their respective licences, and apply sanctions where applicable,” it added.
Besides, NERC stated that the licensee with outstanding report is Paras Energy with one outstanding report each for July, August and September.
A breakdown of the causes of casualties arising from the accidents showed that wire snaps led to 14 deaths and four injuries; illegal and unauthorised access led to four fatalities and two injuries, while vandalism resulted in four deaths and one injury.
Moreover, the report showed that unsafe acts/conditions caused six fatalities and 18 injuries while falls from height led to one death and two injuries.
“The commission has initiated investigations into all reported accidents and will enforce appropriate actions where necessary. Furthermore, the commission continues to closely monitor the implementation of licensees’ accident reduction strategy for the NESI.
“The commission also organises various programmes such as the Health and Safety Manager’s Meeting, aimed at improving the health and safety performance of the NESI.
“The biannual Health and Safety Manager’s Meetings organised by the commission with compliance and regulatory officers of licensees are aimed at discussing the reporting obligations of licensees as well as health and safety matters.
“ During the meetings, licensees’ scorecards on compliance with health and safety standards, forum office decisions, and key performance indicators are discussed while highlighting areas of improvement. The commission shall continue to ensure that all licensees comply with the subsisting performance standards in the NESI.
“In addition, the commission oversees settlement processes between licensees and families of accident victims in the NESI. This is to ensure transparency of the settlement process and to help the victim’s family secure fair compensation for losses suffered,” NERC added.
In 2024/Q3, the commission disclosed that it oversaw the successful conclusion of three compensation negotiations between licensees and families of victims of accidents.
