The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it will reconnect the three electricity distribution companies earlier disconnected from the national grid for non-compliance with market rules.

Kano DisCo, Kaduna Electric and APLE Electric were disconnected by the TCN, leaving customers in their franchise areas in total darkness for days.

In a Sunday statement, Edmund Eje, TCN market operator, said the DisCos would be reconnected by midnight on May 1, following the intervention of the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu.

TCN agreed to restore power supply to the DisCos because of the collateral damage to customers.

The TCN, however, said the disconnected defaulting companies have only 60 days to honour their obligations.

“The intervention by the minister has automatically prolonged the grace period to 60 days from this publication. All market defaulters should comply with the provisions of the market rules with respect to payment of their outstanding invoices,” said the TCN statement.

It added, “Posting of adequate bank guarantees, and forwarding of their active Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) as the case may be, to the market operator/TCN.”

According to TCN, other defaulters yet to be disconnected should also do the needful within 60 days and at the expiration of the grace period, it will resume sanctions in line with the market rules.

”The MO/TCN is hereby urging the erring DisCos to seize this opportunity to fix their defaults as we applaud the intervention of the minister of power,” the statement added.

(NAN)