The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has denied claims by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) regarding its transmission wheeling capacity, maintaining that the figures cited in a recent social media post are inaccurate and outdated.
PHEDC, in a post published on April 2, 2026, had put TCN’s transmission capacity at 7,300 megawatts (MW), with operational capacity ranging between 4,000MW and 5,000MW.
Responding, TCN, in a statement by Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs, on Saturday, clarified that its verified transmission wheeling capacity is currently 8,700MW, noting that the 7,300MW figure referenced by PHEDC no longer reflects the company’s present capabilities.
The company explained that daily power output on the national grid is determined by a combination of generation capacity declared by Generation Companies (GenCos), demand nominations by Distribution Companies (DisCos), and TCN’s declared wheeling capacity. It added that penalties exist for any of the three entities that fail to meet their declared capacities.
TCN questioned whether DisCos, including PHEDC, nominate electricity loads beyond the 4,000MW to 5,000MW range, urging the distribution company to verify its claims before making public statements.
According to TCN, the current 8,700MW capacity is based on simulations conducted by the Independent System Operator (ISO) when it was part of the company. It attributed the increase to sustained investments in critical infrastructure, including transformer installations, construction of substations, and reconductoring of transmission lines.
The company further noted that with several completed and ongoing projects, a new simulation would likely indicate even higher capacity.
TCN also cited recent operational milestones to counter claims that it could only transmit between 4,000MW and 5,000MW. It recalled that in the first quarter of 2025, the power sector recorded three peak generation levels above 5,500MW, all of which were successfully transmitted across the national grid.
These include a peak of 5,801.84MW recorded on March 4, 2025, alongside a maximum daily energy dispatch of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh), described as the highest in the country’s power sector history. Similar peaks of 5,713.60MW on March 2, 2025, and 5,543.20MW on February 14, 2025, were also fully transmitted to distribution companies nationwide.
The transmission company emphasized that these records are publicly verifiable and reflect its operational capacity.
While acknowledging the interconnected nature of Nigeria’s electricity value chain—from gas supply to generation, transmission, and distribution—TCN stressed the importance of accurate communication among stakeholders.
It warned that misinformation could undermine public trust, distort sector progress, and negatively impact policy and investment decisions.
TCN called on industry players to verify information before publication and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, collaboration, and the continued development of Nigeria’s power sector.
The company added that enquiries or requests for clarification on its operations and infrastructure can be directed to its Public Affairs Division.