Japan is requesting that businesses and households use as little electricity as possible this winter in an effort to relieve the strain on its overloaded grid.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura stated that the administration had decided on steps for the winter power supply. NHK, a local broadcaster, previously covered the government’s strategy. The campaign, which will run from December through March, will urge participants to conserve energy by turning off extra lights and dressing in layers indoors.
The campaign follows similar initiatives this summer amid a supply crunch, and it will be Japan’s second push this year to urge households to conserve electricity. Lack of capacity to produce energy is a problem for the resource-scarce country, and the high cost of liquefied natural gas makes it difficult to buy fuel.
According to the most recent projection from the country’s grid operator, the power reserve ratio, which measures the amount of electricity that is being supplied in excess, is anticipated to be 4.1% for the Tokyo and Tohoku regions in January. A stable, balanced grid is allegedly required to have a reserve ratio of 3%.
To help alleviate the anticipated shortage this winter, Jera Co., the largest energy producer in the nation, will restart several of its units at a thermal plant. Fumio Kishida, the prime minister, has also turned to nuclear power and plans to restart seven more reactors starting in the summer of 2019.
Regional electricity producers are under pressure as a result of rising fuel prices and a weak yen. Several companies have said they are considering raising the regulated rates for homes, including Hokuriku Electric Power Co. and Chugoku Electric Power Co.
