In order to respond to the severe power supply and demand this winter, the government will ask households and businesses nationwide to save electricity from December 1st.

We do not set numerical targets, and ask for cooperation in saving electricity within reasonable limits, such as wearing multiple layers indoors.

Regarding the supply and demand of electricity this winter, it is expected that the "reserve margin", which indicates the surplus power supply, will be able to secure the minimum 3% required for stable supply in all regions of the country.



However, if the temperature drops due to a strong cold wave, there is a risk that the demand for electricity will increase more than expected, and there are concerns about the stable procurement of LNG (liquefied natural gas) due to the invasion of Ukraine.



For this reason, the government has decided to request power saving for the first time in seven years during the winter season. I am asking for.



The period is until the end of March next year, and households are requested to lower the setting temperature of heaters within a reasonable range by wearing layers, etc., and to turn off unnecessary lights.



Companies are also requested to reduce lighting in stores and offices as much as possible, and to turn off computers and printers when they are not used for a long time.



In addition, the government is implementing measures to support households and businesses that participate in power saving programs run by electricity retailers by adding points that can be used for shopping.



For households that have reduced their electricity usage by 3% or more compared to the previous year, we will award points equivalent to 1000 yen per month, and we would like to improve the effectiveness of power saving through these measures.

What is a power saving menu that can be tackled at home and business

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has put together a menu of energy-saving measures that can be taken at home and at companies in response to the first power-saving request in seven years for the winter season.

According to this, in areas other than Hokkaido and Okinawa, the percentage of household electricity usage per day in winter is 32.7% for heating, 14.9% for refrigerators, 12.6% for water heaters, and 9.2% for lighting equipment. It is

On top of that, regarding heating, if you wear layers and lower the set temperature of the air conditioner from 22 degrees to 20 degrees, it will be 2.7%. It is said that there is a power saving effect of



Regarding refrigerators, avoiding overcooling, shortening the time the door is open, and not packing too much food into the refrigerator can save 1.5% of electricity.



Turning off all unnecessary lights also saves 4.5% of electricity.

On the other hand, the percentage of electricity used by companies is 33.5% for air conditioning, 29.8% for lighting, and 8.6% for personal computers.

On top of that, reducing the lighting in offices and stores by about half will save 7.7%, and lowering the set temperature of air conditioners from 22 degrees to 20 degrees will save 3.4%.



In addition, when employees leave their seats for a long time, turning off their computers or putting them in standby mode, which consumes less power, can save 3.6% of electricity.

There is also a “Cooking Class” where you can enjoy learning about power saving

Amid the demand for energy saving across the country, a cooking class was held in Suttsu Town, Hokkaido, where people can enjoy learning about energy saving through cooking.



The Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry and the town of Suttsu opened this class on the 27th to encourage households to work on saving electricity before the winter, when the supply and demand for electricity is expected to become severe.



Mr. Hiroyuki Baba, who is a member of the comedy trio "Robert" and is also active as a chef, was invited as a lecturer, and 12 pairs of parents and children living in the town participated.



Participants tried three dishes using local ingredients such as whitebait, scallops, and salmon roe, and learned that using a microwave oven is more effective in saving electricity than using an IH cooker, and that the soup is thicker. I learned that if I wanted to add rice flour, I could shorten the cooking time.



A 9-year-old girl who participated said, "It was fun to use the kitchen knife. The marinated mushrooms were delicious."

Mr. Baba, who served as a lecturer, said, "The people of Suttsu Town are kind, and the temperature is cold, but my heart is warm. Anyway, I recommend warming up with a hot pot in winter."

Prospects for securing a minimum reserve margin may hinder stable supply

Assuming a once-in-a-decade cold weather, the government expects the electricity supply and demand this winter to be the most severe in January next year. 4.1% in Chubu Electric Power, Hokuriku Electric Power, Kansai Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Shikoku Electric Power, and Kyushu Electric Power, 5.6%, and Hokkaido Electric Power 7.9%.



In February next year, it will be 4.9% within the jurisdiction of Tohoku Electric Power and Tokyo Electric Power, 6.5% within the jurisdiction of Chubu Electric Power, Hokuriku Electric Power, Kansai Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Shikoku Electric Power, and Kyushu Electric Power, and 8.1% within the jurisdiction of Hokkaido Electric Power. We expect to be able to secure a reserve margin of 3%, which is the minimum required for stable supply.



However, over the past few years, electricity demand has exceeded initial expectations in many regions, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has warned that power plants will not be able to provide a stable supply of electricity if problems occur at power plants or if temperatures drop significantly due to a cold wave. It is believed that there is a risk of interference with



For this reason, it is essential to take countermeasures against supply shortages, and it is said that in addition to resuming the operation of outdated aging thermal power plants to secure additional power sources, the nuclear power plants that have already been restarted will be fully utilized. In line with the government's policy, we will accelerate the timing of resuming operations at nuclear power plants that have been temporarily suspended due to the construction of anti-terrorism facilities.



In addition, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will promote the development of a new framework that the government will mediate so that electric power and gas companies can receive LNG from other companies in preparation for LNG shortages.