PRESS STATEMENT
Lagos, Nigeria: March 31, 2017: Ikeja Electric Plc, Nigeria’s largest electricity distribution company, has embarked on a routine line tracing exercise aimed at identifying areas within their network where power lines may have been compromised by vegetation.
Overhead power lines, which are normally uninsulated, often get compromised when interference occurs on them especially by vegetative growth. When these vegetation grow too close to power lines, ‘flashovers’ may occur, where electricity “jump” over a distance to reach earth via the object. These flashovers could cause fatal accidents to innocent passersby.
Head of Corporate Communication, Felix Ofulue in his comments noted that the line tracing exercise was a routine exercise annually embarked on by Ikeja Electric designed to forestall accidents. He noted that the exercise, which is being jointly executed by IE’s Technical and Safety Departments, would see the teams traverse major sections and flash-point areas within the network and where obstructive vegetative growth was found, the teams would intervene by trimming the trees and where necessary cut them down.
“As you can see, the rains are steadily increasing. This routine exercise is a precautionary measure to ensure that lives and property are protected. We urge all our customers to also take a precautionary walk around their buildings and homes to ensure that there are no trees growing close to our cables. In fact where any obstructive material is in close proximity to power lines, customers are encouraged to call on us to assist in clearing them. This is crucial for customers safety”, he said.
Ofulue cautioned against sustained commercial activities under power lines, noting that these activities, especially during rainy season was a huge risk. He reminded consumers that the allowed safe distance around power lines was 5.5meters (about 20 feet) for 33/11KV lines, 12.5 meters (about 30 feet) for 132KV lines and 25 meters (about 60 feet) for 330KV power lines.
The line tracing exercise continues across the network. Safety concerns by IE customers may be forwarded to hse@ikejaelectric.com or via IE customer care lines 01-7000250, 01-4483900 and 0700-0-2255-453.
