As the severe cold spell continues, the balance between supply and demand for electricity is again becoming strained this year. The public and private sectors, including consumers, must reexamine measures to avoid a shortage of electricity, which is essential for daily life.
The usage rate -- the proportion of demand against supply capacity -- in the service areas of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. earlier this month temporarily reached 97%, a situation that is described as "very tight." The main reason was said to be a sharp increase in demand for heating due to the cold from greater-than-expected snowfall.
TEPCO managed to get through the situation by receiving emergency supplies from Kansai Electric Power Co. and other power companies. "If there were a glitch at any [thermal power plant], it would have caused a blackout," Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda said.
