TOKYO Kyodo called on households and businesses in Tokyo and surrounding areas to reduce their electricity usage Monday and will ask the same for Tuesday due to heightened demand as Japan braces for a long and hot summer after an early end to the rainy season.
The industry ministry issued its first power supply advisory a day earlier, urging people in the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. service area to take energy-saving steps between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, such as turning off lights that are not in use.
As the capital prepares for potential shortages of expensive energy, Japan's weather agency said Monday that the rainy season in Tokyo and neighboring areas appears to have ended, marking the shortest season since data became available in 1951.
An increase in solar power output and electricity-saving efforts is believed to have helped avert a power crunch for the day, a situation that was beyond expectations Monday.
The power supply advisory is issued when the reserve power supply capacity ratio is projected to fall below 5 percent. The lowest level necessary for stable supply is said to be 3 percent.
The government will call for households and businesses to reduce electricity usage between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, with reserve rates forecast to be tightest between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. at 3.9 percent.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is still urging the use of air conditioners due to the heightened risk of heatstroke, despite the calls for power saving.
The service area of TEPCO covers Tokyo and eight nearby prefectures, including those in eastern Japan's Kanto region, which endured record high June temperatures over the weekend. Numerous regions of the service area saw temperatures of 35 C or higher Monday, with Sano in Tochigi Prefecture recording the highest, 39.8 C.
Other major electricity suppliers across Japan, including Tohoku Electric Power Co., which serves the country's northeast and central Japan's Chubu Electric Power Co., are expected to see significant demand this summer.
Reserve rates in July are projected to be 3.1 percent in the Tohoku, Tokyo and Chubu areas, and 3.8 percent in regions, including western and southwestern Japan.
A ministry system for power usage advisories was introduced after a review into the response to high demand in March this year when a tense earthquake in the country's northeast region caused power plants to halt operations.