The Nigerian Independent System Operator says it is working to accelerate the implementation of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition to enhance grid monitoring.

The SCADA is a software and hardware system that enables industrial organisations to remotely monitor, control, and collect real-time data from machines and processes.

NISO’s managing director, Abdul-Mohammed Bello, said this in a statement to outline some of the achievements the organisation recorded within one-year of its establishment.

According to Mr Bello, NISO is working very closely with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to ensure completion to enhance the grid monitoring infrastructure.

”We are doing this to ensure that SCADA, which is a veritable tool for the system operation is completed. It is a work in progress and we have also reached advanced stages in the deployment of the telemetry system across the grid at the electricity trading points,” he said.

Mr Bello said that the telemetry system would enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the electricity market, thereby enabling settlements in the real time.

”This is very critical for us to have accurate data and management aspects of the system. We have also been able to install substantially IoT metering systems on most parts of the generating units and at the interfaces between transmission and generation, and substations,” he said.

Mr Bello said that the IoT application was an ongoing project that NISO was prioritising. He said when the project is completed before the end of the year, there would be visibility of the national grid from generation through transmission lines, substations, and distribution.

”We are going to make sure that the approved transmission expansion plan is religiously implemented to add value to the system,” he said.

Mr Bello also said that the board of NISO had been able to strengthen and execute Institutional development in the electricity regulatory sector. He said that the system operator had prioritised the building of a strong and credible institution over the past one year, and had already established governance and management structures to support independent system operations.

“We have been able to establish governance and management structures to support independent system operations both at the board level and at the management level.

“We have also strengthened institutional coordination across the electricity value chain, from generation to transmission, distribution, and energy cost management. This is to foster a culture of accountability, professionalism and performance throughout the sector value chain,” he said.

(NAN)