The Erratic Electric Power Supply in Nigeria Causes and Remedy
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The purpose of the study is to determine the erratic electric power supply in Nigeria causes and remedy in Ebonyi State. Specifically, the study will.
- Determine the causes of power failures in Ebonyi State.
- Determine the effect of erratic electric power supplyto commerce and small-scale industries in Ebonyi State.
- Determine the effect of erratic electric power supplyto domestic consumers in Ebonyi State.
- Identity measures to minimize power failures.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Conceptual and Theoretical framework
Electricity is a form of energy which consists of oppositely charged electrons and protons which produce light, heat, magnetic force and chemical changes. According to Endernyi (1978), one of the first important discoveries about electricity is attributed to William Gilbert (1540-1603) He found that when amber was rubbed with a cloth, it attracted only light weight objects, where as loadstone attracted only iron. Gilbert also discovered that other substances, such as sulphur, glass and resin, behave as amber does. He used the Latin word electron for other substances that acted similarly to amber. The word electricity was used for the first time by Sir Thomas Browne (1605-82) He was an English physician. He went further to account that another Englishman, Stephen Gray (1696-1736), discovered that some substances conduct electricity and some do not. Following Gray’s lead, a Frenchman, named Charles du Fay experimented with the conduction of electricity. These experiments led him to believe that there were two kinds of electricity. He called one type vitreous electricity and the other type resinous electricity. He discovered that objects charge with vitreous electricity repelled each other and those charged with resinous electricity attracted each other Hence, it is known today that two types of electrical change do exist. They are called positive and negative. Benjarmine Franklin (1706-90) conducted studies in electricity in the mid-1 700s. He theorized that electricity consisted of a single fluid, and he was the first to use the terms positive and negative. In his famous kite experiment, Framklin showed that lightening is electricity. Enderenyi (1987), went further to say that Augustin de coulomb (1736- 1806), a French physicist, in 1785 proposed the laws that govern the attraction and repulsion between electricity charged bodies. Today, the unit of electrical change is called the coulombs. In 1800, Allessandra Volta (1 745-1 871 ), an Italian Professor of physics, discovered that the chemical action between moisture and two different metals produced electricity Volta constructed the first battery using copper and zinc plates separated by paper that had been moistened with a salt solution. The battery called the voltaic pile was the first source of steady electric current. Till date, the unit of electrical potential energy is called the volt in honour of Volta. The modern unit of electrical current is the ampere (also called Amp) in honour of the French physicist Andre Ampere (1 775-7836).
In 1620, Ampere measured the magnetic effect of an electrical current. He found that two wires carrying current can attract and repel each other. By 1822, Ampere has developed the fundamental laws that are basic to the study of electricity. Lastly, he further opined that one of the most well-known and widely used laws in electrical circuits today is ohms law. It was formulated by Georg Simon Ohm (1787-1 854), a German teacher, in 1826. Ohm’s law gives us the relationship among the three important electrical quantities of resistance, voltage and current. Today, electrical generation, transmission, distribution and utilization are based on these important electrical quantities of ohms. According to Kirschen et a/. (2000), electrical energy is not a simple commodity. Unlike other forms of energy, it cannot easily be stored in large quantities. He further opined that continuity of electricity has a value that can be much higher than the cost of the energy consumed and that separating generation from transmission is a sweet fiction. This shows that any limitation in the transmission system will distort the generation of electricity and vise versa. Vitta (2000), is of the opinion that transmission systems are the critical pathways in delivering electric power from the generators to the loads. It is usually planed and operated in such a way that it with stand the more probable forced and maintenance outages at projected customer demand and anticipated electricity transfer levels. If the transfer levels are steadily maintained without interruption, power reliability will be maintained. As a concept, reliability is an inherent characteristic on a specific measure that describes the ability of any system to perform its intended function (Allan and Bilinton, 2000). In the case of power system, the primaty technical function is to supply electrical energy to its end, customers or consumers. This has always been an important system issue and power system personnel have always stored to ensure that customers receive adequate and secure supplies within reasonable economic constraints. In support of the above, Say (1976), ascertained that the wide use of electrical energy have been fostered by the development of systems of transmission and distribution, so that interconnected net works enable generating plant to be concentrated, and a reliable economic supply to be achieved. The transfer of power through a transmission network is accompanied by voltage drop between the generation and consumption points. In normal operating conditions, these drops are in order of a few percent of the national voltage (Therry, 2000). One of the tasks of power system planners and operators is to check that under heavy stress conditions and or following credible events, all bus voltages remain within acceptable bonds. He further explained that voltages experience have progressive fails, which are so propounded that the system integrity is encouraged and power cannot be delivered correctly to consumers. This catastrophe, according to him is referred to as voltage instability and its calamitous result is voltage collapse.
This instability stems from the attempt of load dynamics to restore power consumption beyond the amount that can be provided by the combine transmission and generatlon system. Voltage instability is recognised as a major threat to system operation.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the erratic electric power supply in nigeria causes and remedy. Selected electricity users in Ebonyi State form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of Ninty-five (95) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which 80 were returned. The analysis of this study is based on the number returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary
The method of data collection used in this study is questionnaire. A total of 95 copies of questionnaire were administered to the small scale industrialists, shop operators and domestic consumers. Out of these numbers, 80 of them were returned and collected for analysis. The question was divided into five Section A – E. Section A dealt with respondents background information, section 6 dealt with causes of irregular Electricity supply in Ebonyi State, Section C dealt with the effects of irregular supply of electricity to commerce and small scale industries; Section D dealt with the effects of irregular supply of electricity to domestic consumers and Section E dealt with the measures to minimize the rate of power failures in Ebonyi State.
Principal Findings
The causes of power failure in Ebonyi State include:
Vandalization of NEPA installations;
Harsh weather conditions;
Overloading of electrical circuits due to illegal connections;
Delays in repairing damaged generating transmission and distribution components;
Ageing of transmission cables;
Faulty wiring and use of inferior installation materials: Illegal connection of load to public mains by consumers and; Lack of service vehicles.
- The effects of irregular supply of electricity to both small scale industrialists and domestic consumers include the following:
Retards industrialization of rural and urban areas
Retards commercial activities such as trading, banking, shop operations, school laboratories and shops, poultry life stock production, others are it effects health workers in the hospitals and high expenditure on buying and maintaining of generators etc. It causes emotional, psychological, stressful situations and psychological imbalance; It retards food and fruit preservation; limits the use of electrical gadgets and accessories for social activities and relaxation at home;
Conclusion
The objective of this study was to find out the effects of irregular supply of electricity to consumers in Ebonyi State. Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusion were made:
- That the vandalization of electrical equipmentcomponents is a major cause of irregular electricity supply in Ebonyi State.
- irregular supply of electricity have grave consequences on small scale industrialists, shop operators and hospitals. Hence, they spend a lot on the procurement and maintenance of generators and additional cost of production is passed to consumers who are already overstressed. For the small scale industrialists, planning is difficult because fuel supply is unpredictable.
- That the irregular supply of electricity affects the domestic consumers socially, emotionally, economically and above all, loose consumable food items due to lack of refrigeration.
Recommendation
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher made the following recommendations in order to enhance effective and regular power supply;
- The National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) should; improve sewice to customers and realize full payment to timely, accurate and complete billing of electricity delivered. They should also institutionalize orientations on electricity usage and consumption by consumers; provide adequate or enough generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in order to satisfactorily meet customers’ electricity demand in the most cost effective manner.
- Electricity energy efficiency in Ebonyi State needs to be improved through orientation and awareness programmes on the benefits of replacing present stock of appliances with recent and more energy conserving technology.
- The grid system need to be doubled and possible interconnections provided to take care of vandalization. Hence efforts need to be directed to ensure that vandalization or accidental tripping of any line does not reduce or totally stop power supply to any part of the country.
- There should be effective system protection of the electrical system. This should be done by removing quickly faulty, section of the system to ensure uninterrupted supply to healthy section of the system. The computer controlled system should be encouraged in this case.
References
- Adebayo, I. (2010). The limits of privatization in a developing economy. Privatization of public enterprises in Nigeria. Ibadan: Nigeria Economic Society Seminar Series.
- Ademikinju A. (2005) analysis of the cost infrastructure failure in a developing economy. The case of the electricity sector in Nigeria. A.E.R.C Research paper 148. African Economic Research Consortium, Nairobi,
- Adegbamigbe O.A. (2007). Obasanjo’s legacies. The News Magazine, 28M, No. 21, June 9, pp.68- 70.
- Agbi, A. (2007,May 21). Ending the power Nightmare. Tell Magazine, pp 28-31.
- Ajanaku I. (2007,November 27) Battling with darkness. Tell Magazine (Special Ed), pp 31-33.
- Akpokojie, O.(1997) prices, quality and demand for electricity in Nigeria: department of Economics, uniben
- Al-Zayer, J., Al-Ibrahim, A., (1996). Modelling the impact of temperature on electricity consumption in the eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Forecasting 15 (2), 97–106.
- Ameli, J. (2006, February 7). Inflated Bills. Demonstrators shut PHCN office. The PUNCH Newspaper, pp 14.
