NERC Orders Five-Year Grid Audits to Boost Power Stability

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has rolled out a comprehensive set of guidelines requiring periodic technical audits of the country’s transmission network and stricter verification of operational data, in a move aimed at strengthening the reliability of Nigeria’s electricity grid.

The new 2026 Guidelines on the Procedures for Technical Audit of the Transmission System and Network Data Validation, which became effective on July 20, 2026, establish a standard framework for evaluating the condition of transmission infrastructure and ensuring the integrity of data used in managing the national grid. The regulations were issued in line with the Electricity Act 2023 and provisions of the Nigerian Electricity Grid Code.

As part of the reforms, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has been directed to engage independent, qualified consultants to conduct detailed technical assessments of the nation’s 330kV and 132kV transmission lines every five years, or sooner if required by the Commission.

The guidelines also impose new responsibilities on licensed Transmission Service Providers (TSPs), mandating them to provide auditors with unrestricted access to substations, operational records, SCADA systems, and other critical network information needed for a thorough evaluation of transmission assets.

Following each audit, operators will be required to prepare Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) to address identified shortcomings. They must also submit annual progress reports to NERC, outlining the implementation of recommended corrective measures and infrastructure upgrades.

To ensure transparency and consistency, the Commission has also prescribed qualification standards for consultant