Amanze Chinonye
Nigeria’s grid-connected power plants ended August 2025 with an installed generation capacity of 13,625 megawatts (MW), but only 5,514 MW was actually available for dispatch on average.
This translated to a Plant Availability Factor of 40 percent, one percentage point lower than the level recorded in July.
Actual output during the month averaged 4,106 MW, meaning that just 74 percent of the available capacity was utilised a slight decline from July when both output and utilisation were higher. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), generation fell by about 5 percent, while the load factor dropped by 4 percent compared to the previous month.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelGrid performance indicators also showed worrying trends. The average lower grid voltage was 300.65 kilovolts (kV) and the upper voltage reached 350.77 kV, both outside the prescribed safe range of 313.50 to 346.50 kV.
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Frequency stability likewise deviated from standards, with the lowest frequency recorded at 49.37 hertz (Hz) and the highest at 50.78 Hz, exceeding the acceptable band of 49.75 to 50.25 Hz.
The data underscore the persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector: low plant availability, under-utilised capacity, and unstable grid parameters continue to limit reliable power supply.
For households and businesses, these technical shortcomings translate to recurring blackouts, unreliable service, and higher operational costs hindering economic growth despite the country’s sizeable installed generation potential.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
