TCN Completes Live Maintenance on Zaria–Funtua Power Line Without Blackout

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has successfully completed live-line maintenance on the Zaria–Funtua 132kV transmission line without interrupting bulk electricity supply, in a move aimed at improving the reliability of the national transmission network.

The maintenance exercise, carried out by TCN’s Kaduna Region Live-Line Crew, lasted from July 4 to July 7, 2026, and involved the replacement of damaged insulators on critical sections of the transmission line while it remained energised.

According to the company, the operation was executed using live-line maintenance techniques, allowing engineers to carry out repairs without shutting down the line or disrupting electricity transmission to customers.

The exercise covered transmission towers T14, T17, T40, T63, T78, T175, T177 and T178, where at least five damaged glass disc insulators were identified on each tower.

TCN said the damaged components were replaced with a combination of polymer and glass disc insulators to restore the integrity and reliability of the insulation strings.

“The maintenance was successfully executed under energized (live-line) conditions, eliminating the need for a planned outage while ensuring the uninterrupted transmission of bulk electricity throughout the exercise,” the company said.

It noted that the successful completion of the project reflects its commitment to deploying modern maintenance techniques to improve the efficiency, safety and reliability of the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure.

According to TCN, the use of live-line technology enables essential maintenance work to be carried out without disconnecting power lines, thereby minimising service disruptions while enhancing the stability of the national grid.

The company added that the exercise forms part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the transmission network and ensure more reliable electricity delivery across the country.

“The successful completion of the exercise underscores TCN’s commitment to maintaining a safe, reliable and efficient transmission network through the deployment of modern live-line maintenance techniques,” it stated.