TCN Keeps Power Flowing During Live-Line Repairs on Zaria–Funtua Transmission Line

"The live-line maintenance exercise, conducted by TCN's Kaduna Region from July 4 to July 7, 2026, involved replacing damaged glass disc insulators on key transmission towers with a combination of polymer and glass disc insulators to improve the reliability and integrity of the line." TCN 

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has successfully carried out critical maintenance on the Zaria–Funtua 132kV transmission line without interrupting electricity transmission, demonstrating its growing capacity to maintain the national grid while keeping power supply stable.

The live-line maintenance exercise, conducted by TCN's Kaduna Region from July 4 to July 7, 2026, involved replacing damaged glass disc insulators on key transmission towers with a combination of polymer and glass disc insulators to improve the reliability and integrity of the line.

The affected towers—T14, T17, T40, T63, T78, T175, T177 and T178—each had at least five damaged glass disc insulators requiring replacement.

Unlike conventional maintenance that often necessitates shutting down transmission lines, the operation was executed under energized, or live-line, conditions, allowing uninterrupted bulk power transmission throughout the four-day exercise.

TCN said the successful intervention eliminated the need for a planned outage while ensuring continuous electricity delivery to customers served through the transmission corridor.

The company noted that the achievement reflects its commitment to strengthening the nation's transmission infrastructure through modern maintenance techniques that enhance network safety, reliability and operational efficiency.

The live-line operation is part of TCN's ongoing efforts to improve grid performance and reduce disruptions associated with routine maintenance across the country's transmission network.