Asahi Shimbun file photo Household electricity rates will jump by 10 percent to 30 percent from a year ago mainly because of the soaring fuel prices, the 10 major utilities in Japan said on June 29.
The rates will be the highest in five years.
In August, Tokyo Electric Power Co. will increase its fee for a standard household to 9,118 yen $66.83, a 30 percent increase from last year.
The rate will be 247 yen higher than the July level.
The price hikes for the two companies will be the 12th month in a row.
In August, Hokkaido Electric Power Co. will increase its rate to 8,862 yen, which is 99 yen higher than in July and the 17th consecutive month of increases.
Eight companies can't raise their fees because they have already hit the ceiling in the system that allows them to adjust monthly electricity rates based on fluctuations in fuel prices.
The electricity rates for remote islands serviced by Kyushu Electric Power Co. have reached the cap.
Hokkaido Electric Power will reach the price ceiling in August.
Major power companies are required to get the approval of the government to raise their rates in the regulated segment of the market.
Power companies can set prices on their own for corporate customers, and these rates are expected to rise further.
The government announced a program to reward households that conserve electricity in order to help the public deal with rising prices.
Points worth 2,000 yen will be given to households from August if they participate in the power-saving programs organized by the utilities.
The economy and industry ministry said on June 29 that the average price for gasoline was 174.9 yen per liter, 1.0 yen higher than the previous week.
The price at the pump has gone up for four weeks in a row, although the government has been providing subsidies of around 40 yen per liter to oil distributors.