Japan to Ask People to Conserve Power This Winter, NHK Says

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(Bloomberg) — Japan is set to ask people to conserve electricity as much as possible during the winter as the country tries to ease pressure from a stretched power grid. 

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The government will announce a nationwide power conservation campaign on Tuesday, local broadcaster NHK reported. The program will run between December and March, and will encourage people to save electricity by turning off unnecessary lights and wearing layers of clothing to stay warm indoors. 

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The campaign will be Japan’s second effort this year urging residents to save electricity, after implementing similar measures during the summer amid a supply squeeze. The resource-scant nation suffers from a lack of capacity to generate electricity, and the surge in prices for liquefied natural gas combined with the weak yen have made it costly to procure fuel. 

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The power reserve ratio, which measures excess supply of electricity, is expected to be at 4.1% for the Tokyo and Tohoku regions in January, according to the latest forecast from the nation’s grid operator. A reserve ratio of 3% is said to be needed for a stable, balanced power grid. 

The country’s biggest energy producer Jera Co. will resume operating some of its units at a thermal plant to help ease an expected power crunch this winter. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has also shifted toward nuclear power, seeking to restart seven more reactors from next summer. 

The increased fuel costs and weak yen are putting a strain on regional electricity producers. Hokuriku Electric Power Co. and Chugoku Electric Power Co. have said they will apply to the trade ministry to raise regulated power bill rates for households, while others said they are considering taking the step.