Client: Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)

Emtech was contracted by NERC to carrying out an audit of the interconnected Transmission and Distribution system in certain pilot stations in a number of distribution companies (DisCos) selected by NERC.

The scope of the assignment involves a desktop analysis of the distribution feeders in the DisCos to select the candidate feeders, evaluation of the conditions and age of lines and equipment and also undertaking power flow and voltage analysis to assess if the system is operating efficiently.

In additions, the scope included the assessment of the effectiveness of the maintenance, protection and communications systems as well as the system’s compliance with the relevant regulations and codes established by NERC and the general reliability and performance of the system.

Client: National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)/USAID

Emtech was contracted by NARUC/USAID in providing technical assistance to the regulatory commissions in Eswatini and Togo to improve Quality and Service and Economic Regulation respectively.

For Eswatini, the project involved assisting the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) to review its existing Quality of Service Regulations and propose new performance benchmarks and enforcement mechanisms to improve quality of service regulation for the distribution utilities. The Technical assistance also includes the capacity building of stakeholders on the new QoS framework.

The Technical Assistance to the Togolese Regulatory Authority, ARSE involves the conduct of a gap analysis on the legal and regulatory framework for economic regulation. It also includes the development of training modules and the facilitation of a technical training workshop on regulatory accounting and revenue requirements determination for the staff of ARSE, the utilities and ministry of energy.

Client: National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and USAID

With support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Power Africa under the auspices of the Energy Regulatory Partnership Program (ERPP), the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) of USA is collaborating with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to assist sub-Saharan African electricity regulators in improving electricity governance.

Emtech was contracted to develop Guidelines for advancing economic and commercial quality of service regulations in Africa’s power sector. The Guidelines outline concrete steps for countries to take to improve implementation of effective economic and quality of service regulation.

The Guideline will serve as a roadmap that regulators, utilities and policymakers in Africa should pursue to advance economic and quality of service regulations across the continent targeting specific regulatory gaps in these areas identified in the AfDB Electricity Regulatory Index. The Guidelines incorporate several case studies from the African continent to showcase successful implementation of various aspects of economic and quality of service regulation.

Emtech also facilitated a capacity building workshop for regulators from 42 African countries. In addition to outlining technical interventions and strategies for consideration by regulators, the Guidelines also summarizes the significance of recommended regulatory actions, including the need for regulatory impact assessments and institutional capacity building, for consideration by policy makers in Africa’s power sector.

Client: Total Energies EP Nigeria Limited

Emtech assisted Total Energies in the application and processing of a license application for a 5MW Solar Power Captive Plant License with the Nigerian electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The site previously had a diesel plat installed which serves some of Total Energies operational site (OML 50) as well as it staff housing quarters in Rivers State, Nigeria. The shift towards the installation of a Solar Power Plant is part of Total’s commitment towards the utilization of greener energy sources.

Client: Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)

The Best Practice transmission loss factor is below 5%. However, the volume of energy losses in the Nigerian transmission network is usually more than 10%, most of which is meter related. The TCN contracted Emtech Energy Services Ltd to inspect and evaluate the Metering Systems at all the Trading Points in Nigerian Grid network to identify meter related sources of transmission losses

The project involved visits to all the power plants in the country where power is injected into the grid, and the transmission substations where the Distribution Companies and the Eligible Customers extract power from the grid. It also involved assessing the availability of the relevant metering systems at the Trading Points, and the measurements of the primary and secondary currents of the CTs to check for consistency between the nameplate CT ratio and the actual ratio. The wiring of the meters were inspected to confirm consistency with the specifications.

A project Report was developed and submitted to the client, detailing all the observed sources of transmission losses in the grid network, for possible necessary action.

Client: Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd (TEPNG), Port-Harcourt

Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd (TEPNG) has a gas power plant at its office complex in Port-Harcourt, whose capacity is underutilized. TEPNG decided to extend power supply to its Housing Estate using the surplus capacity of the plant through a 5km 33KV distribution line to be operated and maintained by the Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC).

TEPNG contracted Emtech Energy Services Ltd to develop a Pricing Model for the Determination of Distribution Use of Service (DUoS) Charges, to be paid to PHEDC, for the evacuation of Power on a 33KV feeder from TEPNG Power Plant to its Housing Estate in Port-Harcourt

The project involved the determination of the cost of the infrastructure involved in the evacuation of the Power from the Power Plant to the Housing Estate, determination of the volume of Energy to be evacuated on the Infrastructure, and definition of the Equations and Assumptions (such as the life cycle of the assets, exchange rate variations, inflation rates, percentage availability of the network, etc) to be used in the Model.

Emtech ran the Model to determine the unit prices of energy to be used in calculating the charges over the horizon. The Model was the key deliverable for the assignment.

Client: National Power Training Institute of Nigeria

Emtech, in 2017, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NAPTIN for the purpose of establishing a collaboration that will facilitate the provision of training courses, workshops, seminars and joint research to enhance capacity and effectiveness in the Nigerian and African Electricity sector. To this end, NAPTIN has incorporated relevant training modules on utility operations & management, electricity market and utility regulation in its training programme which is facilitated by Emtech on an on-going basis.

This training programme is designed to enhance the capacity of staff and the management team of utility companies, regulators, and other companies and agencies on electricity markets and regulation prior to the commencement of the flagship programme. Practical experience and burning issues in the Nigerian & West African Power Sectors were discussed for a clearer understanding of the evolving power sector.
The course Agenda included:

• Overview of the evolution of the Nigerian Power Sector
• Understanding the Electricity Market and types of market organization
• Identifying the various market players and roles of sector institutions
• Understanding market viability, financial sustainability and liquidity
• Fundamentals of Regulation and emerging regulatory landscape
• Performance monitoring & Benchmarking
• Insights into the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market

Client: Eko Electricity Distribution Company

The project was designed to establish an accurate data base for electricity consumers in the contract areas and to develop and implement unique identification numbering for the consumers and the supply infrastructure equipment. The overarching objective of the project was to establish a programme for a sustainable improvement in the revenue generation capability of the Business Units through effective target setting and performance monitoring.

The project involved a house-to-house audit of the customers in the areas, the audit and unique identification numbering of the network equipment feeding the customers and the establishment of an accurate database of the customers and their supply equipment. The Consultant, as part of the assignment, investigated the performance of the staff involved in metering, meter reading, bill distribution, customer disconnection and reconnection as part of the revenue generation and collection exercises. In addition, key performance indicators were established to enable the performance monitoring of the staff on an on-going basis.

The project involved the use of web-based ICT system to enumerate and capture the data, as well as to analyse the data for the purpose of generating information and monitoring the performance of activities for the client.

Client: Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)

The key objective of the project was the determination of the volume of un-utilized generation on the Nigerian grid, and for the assessment of the capacity gaps at the Transmission – Distribution interface points all over the country, as well as the investment requirements to close the identified gaps.

The project, sponsored by the World Bank, started with the determination of the estimated loads at the interface substations.

This information on loads was provided by the distribution companies, from their figures of connected and suppressed loads.

The project involved the visit of all the 132/33KV substations in the country, with all the associated 33KV lines, injection substations, 11KV feeders and the distribution substations (33/.0415KV and 11/.0415KV), to assess their status. The gap between load at the interface and the capacity of the infrastructure from the distribution substations to the interface substation to supply the load was established. The investments on infrastructure to close the gaps were identified.

However, there were some on-going transmission and distribution projects and some planned ones with the capacity to close part of the gaps. These project were evaluated and the contribution towards gap closure was captured to generate a net infrastructure gap. The projects to close the net gap were identified and presented to the client in a report as part of the deliverable. In addition, the investment required to close the gap was also evaluated and presented to the client.

Client: NEXANT Inc. USA

The Market Rules for the Nigerian Electricity Industry specified some Conditions Precedent for the commencement of the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM) Stage in the development of the Nigerian Electricity Market. Some of the conditions include the readiness of the Market Operator and the System Operator, the metering of the Trading Points, and processes to ensure seamless trading among the Market Participants.

With support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), NEXANT Inc of USA provided assistance to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the overall assessment of the readiness of the Nigerian Electricity Market for the Transitional Electricity Market Stage

In 2013, Emtech Energy Services Ltd was contracted by NEXANT Inc. to carry out an analysis of the gap in the requirements of the electricity market for the commencement of TEM. Reference to the Market Rules and the Grid Code were made to determine the conditions to be satisfied for TEM to start

After the assignment, the Transitional stage of the Nigerian Electricity Market (TEM) was declared in February, 2015.

Client: Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company

The key objective of the project was to undertake an in-depth monitoring of the commercial performance of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution company and also undertake a comprehensive field audit of all the customers of the company. The results of the monitoring and audit exercise was used to assist the company in formulating and developing a valid revenue cycle management frame work aimed at improving billing and collection efficiencies, ensuring the effective deployment of meters and establishing a credible customer database as well as customer tariff re-classification to ensure the optimal commercial performance of the company.

The project also involved the establishment of key performance indicators for all staff involved in commercial activities as well as development of an ICT software for performance monitoring of the company based on agreed key indicators for the improvement of the revenue cycle management.

Client: Ekiti State Government

The objective of this project was to assist Ekiti State Government obtain data required for its power supply infrastructure planning. Emtech assisted the principal consultant (Exenergia) for the project, to determine the power supply need of the State, giving the present load demand and the projected load demand from the economic and social development plans of the state, for the next ten years.

With the annual demand of power supply for ten years established, an audit of the existing infrastructure was conducted to establish the supply infrastructure gap along the value chain.

The power generation gap, as well as the power transmission and distribution gaps were established. The necessary investments in power generation, transmission and distribution to close the established gaps were also identified.

Client: Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd.

This training programme, designed for industry practitioners and other stakeholders with minimal training on energy markets and regulation, was aimed at equipping participants with the core concepts on electricity markets and regulations. Practical experience and burning issues in the Nigerian & West African Power Sectors were discussed for a clearer understanding of the evolving power sector.

The course Agenda included:

• Overview of the evolution of the Nigerian Power Sector
• Understanding the Electricity Market and types of market organization
• Identifying the various market players and roles of sector institutions
• Understanding market viability, financial sustainability and liquidity
• Fundamentals of Regulation and emerging regulatory landscape
• Performance monitoring & Benchmarking
• Insights into the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market