Japan starts mandatory power saving drive

• 12 years ago (2011-07-01)
• David Flin

Asia 848 North America 998

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Heavy energy using Japanese companies are changing working hours and shifting production to weekends to save energy as the country’s first mandatory power-saving drive since the 1970s starts.

Heavy users are required to cut electricity consumption by 15 percent to help avoid blackouts. This situation has been brought about due to the loss of generating capacity as a result of the March tsunami combined with increased demand from air conditioners as summer temperatures rose above 35°C, the highest this year.

Tepco said that power demand has risen to its highest level since the disaster. It is trying to restore regular supply by repairing damaged gas and oil-fired stations and expanding hydropower generation. Tepco hopes this will raise capacity from its current level of 50,100 MW to 55,200 MW by the end of July. Power demand rose to 45,700 MW on June 29, equivalent to 93 percent of Tepco’s supply. Last year, Tepco’s power demand peaked at 60,000 MW on July 23, according to data compiled by the Federation of Electric Power Companies.

Yoshinori Mori, a Tepco spokesman, said: “We may take emergency measures, including scheduled blackouts, if demand is too high.” Tepco will start issuing a daily demand forecast at 6pm Japan time for the next day, Mori said. If projected demand exceeds 97 percent of expected capacity, the government will issue a warning of possible power shortages. Tepco will update the forecast the next morning, and if the likely demand remains higher than 97 percent of capacity, the government will issue a second warning that would require the utilities to consider scheduling outages.

Companies in and near Tokyo that use more than 500 kW are required to save electricity. Sony’s Tokyo headquarters will start and finish an hour earlier than usual, switching off air conditioners at the end of the day to urge employees to leave. Other firms have said that they will extend their usual summer break, while others are encouraging employees to work from home where possible.

Nippon Steel has said that it will restart its 136 MW power plant in Kamaishi city, prioritising this over full restoration of steel production.