TOKYO Kyodo households and businesses entered a three-month period on Friday to conserve electricity to prevent a power crunch amid a record-breaking heat wave, marking the first time in seven years that the government has made such a request.
Despite the fact that June has kept power demand extremely hot, supply is expected to remain tight throughout the summer due to persistent heat and infrastructure issues.
The government wants to reduce energy consumption without disrupting everyday life and economic activities, despite the fact that a numerical target has not been set for the period through September.
The Japanese archipelago has endured record high temperatures over the past few days, with the mercury reaching 35 C and above in many areas, with the hot weather expected to continue.
Due to the heightened risk of heatstroke, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry is calling for people to use air conditioners and save electricity via measures such as turning off unnecessary lights.
Energy-saving measures are especially encouraged between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. when solar power generation declines.
The ministry issued a power usage warning for four consecutive days on Monday in Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s service area, as sweltering temperatures in the Japanese capital and surrounding areas were expected to cause pressure on the system.
Concern over a power crunch waned, but the risk of an electricity shortage remains due to issues such as aging thermal power plants.
The Nakoso coal and oil-fired power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, was temporarily halted due to a technical problem, although it partially resumed operation the same day.
In July, some electricity suppliers will begin a point system to reward households that take energy-saving measures. The government decided to give power-saving points worth 2,000 yen $15 to households in August.
The industry ministry said that the risk of procuring fuel for thermal power generation is increasing due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with concerns over a power crunch likely to increase in winter when solar power generation declines.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster in March 2011 resulted in the suspension of many of the country's reactors, with the government consistently calling for energy saving measures to be taken until 2015 after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami led to the suspension of many of the country's reactors.
After some nuclear plants resumed operation, the government stopped making requests for more nuclear plants in 2016.