The Japanese government started restricting electricity consumption by large-lot users in eastern Japan from Friday morning in a bid to avert power shortages in the aftermath of the 11 March earthquake/tsunami that damaged power plants including the crisis-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, government officials said.
Under the restriction, based on the 1964 electricity business law, large-lot power users, such as business offices and factories, will be required to reduce peak-time electricity consumption by 15% from a year earlier. It will come into force at 9 am Friday, Kyodo News reported.
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Corporations are planning to start operations earlier or close plants on weekdays and operate on weekends.
Automakers Honda Motor, Nissan Motor and Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) began weekday shutdowns on Thursday, with industry leader Toyota following on Friday. They will close plants on Thursday and Friday, and instead operate on Saturday and Sunday.
The government last restricted the use of power in 1974, shortly after the outbreak of the oil crisis in 1973.
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The restriction will cover eastern Japan served by Tokyo Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power which both suffered severe damage to power plants in the March disaster.
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By GlobalDataThe electricity business law allows the minister of economy, trade and industry to restrict electricity consumption if a supply shortage would adversely affect the national economy, standard of living or public interest.
The law sets penalties of up to JPY1m for intentional violation of the government’s restriction.
The government will issue an electricity crisis warning, and urge firms and the general public in the two power companies’ service areas to save power when demand tops 97% of supply capacity to prevent a large-scale blackout.
Kansai Electric Power, which serves Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, Nara, Wakayama, Fukui and Mie prefectures as well as part of Gifu Prefecture, has also asked firms and households in its service area to reduce electricity consumption by around 15%.
The government’s mandatory power-saving action excludes 30 sectors completely or partially, including railway operators, hospitals and public facilities in areas hit by the disaster. But most retailers and service providers are not exempted from the action covering large-lot power users who have concluded contracts to use more than 500 kilowatts.
The restriction will be in effect between 9am and 8pm on weekdays from 1 July to 22 September in Tokyo Electric’s service area and until 9 September in Tohoku Electric’s territory. During the period, large-lot users are required to report their power usage to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry four times.
Hospitals that provide emergency treatment and shelters for evacuees from the disaster are exempted, while the reduction target figure will be relaxed to up to 10% for medical, nursing-care and transportation service providers.
The government has also asked small-lot users and households to voluntarily cut their electricity consumption by 15% by working out power-saving plans or switching off air conditioners and lights frequently.
Japanese firms tend to set air conditioner temperatures quite high. On a summer visit to Toyota’s Tsutsumi plant a couple of years ago, just-auto noticed office air conditioners set to cool only when the temperature reached 28C (82F).
Chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano told a news conference that businesses and individuals need to continue efforts to save power.
The industry ministry said the number of business offices to be covered by the action stands at around 14,800 in Tokyo Electric’s service area and around 3,700 in Tohoku Electric’s service area.
The power supply shortage mainly stems from the suspension of nuclear power plants, industry sources said.
Only 19 of the country’s 54 reactors operated by utilities were in operation as of Thursday, with the remaining 35 shut down.
At Kansai Electric, which is more dependent on nuclear power than other utilities, four of the companies’ 11 reactors are shut down. Two of the four are scheduled to undergo regular checks this summer.
Other utilities, such as Chubu Electric Power, Hokuriku Electric Power, Shikoku Electric Power and Kyushu Electric Power, are also facing problems with regard to supply capacity in the summer.
JAPAN: Toyota, too, may break electricity use deal
