Tokyo Braces for Power Crunch as Government Calls for Conservation of Electricty

Although it did not provide specific numbers, the Japanese government on Friday urged residents and businesses in the Tokyo area to conserve electricity in July and August to guarantee a steady electricity supply at the busiest time of year.

According to a prediction made by the industry ministry in May, the country's power market will be less constrained this summer in most regions than last summer, when the government requested energy conservation across the country, as reported by Reuters.

Reserve Ratio Below Five Percent

However, because the reserve ratio is predicted to be below five percent, close to the minimum three percent that ensures stable supply, the ministry has decided to request power savings "within a reasonable range" during the two months in the areas where the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings supply power.

According to the government, the predicted reserve ratio for the Tokyo region during a once-in-a-decade heat wave is 3.1 percent for July and 4.8 percent for August. However, the statistics elsewhere remain above five percent for both months.

Power outages and shortages are possible when the reserve capacity ratio falls below three percent.

The government's call for conservation comes as the country's power supply is expected to be tight this summer due to several factors, including:

A decline in the output of nuclear power plants has been offline since the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011.
An increase in the electricity demand as the country's economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A heat wave that is expected to hit Japan this summer.

No Specific Targets Yet

The government has not set any specific targets for energy conservation. Still, it has asked residents and businesses to turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use, and use air conditioners sparingly.

(Photo : japanvlogjp) Japan Tokyo Takeshita Street in summer

The government has also said it is working to increase the country's power supply by restarting idled nuclear power plants and importing more electricity from other countries.

However, the government has warned that there is still a risk of power outages this summer if the weather is hotter than expected or if there is a problem with the power grid.

A large portion of eastern Japan was scorched for a week in June of 2022 by the highest temperatures for the season since records have been kept, prompting the government to advise residents to reduce their electricity consumption as much as possible.

According to a Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry representative, the government has not taken any particular action for June. Still, it is keeping an eye on the operation of power plants and the electricity demand, as reported by US News.