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Japan: Govt Weighing Power Usage Cuts For Firms, Homes
Nikkei ^ | 03/18/11

Posted on 03/17/2011 4:54:49 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

Friday, March 18, 2011

Govt Weighing Power Usage Cuts For Firms, Homes

TOKYO (Nikkei)--With cold weather boosting demand for electricity, the government is considering mandatory power usage cuts for businesses and households to avert a major blackout in greater Tokyo.

"We may need to take compulsory measures in some cases," said Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Banri Kaieda at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

The ministry is considering setting mandatory quotas for each business sector to reduce power usage. Large companies could also face usage limits, and restrictions on the use of electronic signs may be introduced, under the Electricity Utilities Industry Act. The ministry also plans to discuss with utilities the possibility of expanding the current rolling blackouts.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501) had raised the possibility of a widespread outage at 6-7 p.m. on Thursday due to a shortage of electricity. But actual power demand totaled 30.5 million kilowatts, less than the projected 40 million kilowatts, according to Tepco Executive Vice President Takashi Fujimoto. The utility's current output capacity is 34 million kilowatts. A widespread outage was averted because railway operators and others cut power use at the government's request.

But Fujimoto warned that power demand may grow Friday because temperatures are forecast to drop. Tepco projects that demand will reach 40 million kilowatts. The firm will decide as early as Friday whether to implement rolling blackouts over the three-day weekend, he said.

(The Nikkei March 18 morning edition)

(Excerpt) Read more at e.nikkei.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coldweather; electricity; energy; rationing

1 posted on 03/17/2011 4:54:58 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

This is the time when we can gain the trust and backing of the Japanese people for generations to come, If we will only take it and throw our whole hearted support to the Japanese people.


2 posted on 03/17/2011 5:06:02 PM PDT by dljordan ("His father's sword he hath girded on, And his wild harp slung behind him")
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To: dljordan
and throw our whole hearted support to the Japanese people.

Amen, brother. As hard as we fought them in WWII, we should help them now with the same fervor.

/johnny

3 posted on 03/17/2011 5:18:00 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: TigerLikesRooster; sushiman; Ronin; AmericanInTokyo; gaijin; struggle; DTogo; GATOR NAVY; Iris7; ...

P!


4 posted on 03/17/2011 5:23:24 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (The way to crush the bourgeois is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

To avoid a shortage, let the price fluctuate based on supply and demand. Supply has dropped, so price should go up. That is all the motivation people need to conserve.

Furthermore it will encourage profit-seeking entrepreneurs to generate and sell power on the market as well.


5 posted on 03/17/2011 5:24:36 PM PDT by arista
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