If you realize it's already December.

It seems that this year will be a "winter of power saving".



In order to cope with the severe power supply this winter, the government started asking households and businesses nationwide to save electricity from December 1st.


We do not have a numerical target, but we ask for cooperation in saving electricity within reasonable limits, such as wearing multiple layers in the room.


Various efforts were immediately seen in various places.

Save electricity at the amusement park

At the amusement park in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo, we have begun turning off some of the lights in the park facilities.

Also, from the 1st, the illumination in the park, which was held every day at night, will be limited to weekends and holidays.



In addition, we plan to introduce a private power generation that uses biofuel, and we would like to work on saving electricity as much as possible.



A woman in her 40s who visited with her child said, "I think it's a good initiative because I think it's okay to turn off unnecessary lights. I want to save electricity by lowering the heating temperature at home."



Masanori Noguchi, manager of Arakawa Amusement Park, said, ``We will ask visitors to put up with the illuminations, but we would like them to understand that it is a nationwide power saving.''

Reason for power saving request

For the first time in seven years, we requested power saving during the winter season.

Why did the government make this decision?



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, we did not set numerical targets for households and businesses nationwide, but requested their cooperation in saving electricity within reasonable limits.



Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura said, "Since we need to use the minimum amount of electricity for our daily lives, we would like to ask for it to be within a reasonable range. Also, it is important to suppress peaks in electricity use, so we ask for your cooperation in shifting peaks. I am grateful to have it," he said.



In addition, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said on the 1st, ``From this month to March, as a countermeasure against electricity demand, wear layers to lower the room temperature, turn off the lights in rooms that are not in use, and be careful not to use too much hot water. We ask for your cooperation in saving electricity and energy within reasonable limits."

Strengthen sales of cold-weather goods such as “hanten” and “hot water bottle”

The government is asking households to lower the set temperature of heaters within a reasonable range, such as wearing multiple layers indoors.



Under these circumstances, a clothing and miscellaneous goods store in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, is strengthening sales of cold-weather goods that can be used indoors so that people can stay comfortable even when the heating temperature is lowered.

Among them, there is a full lineup of "hanten", and there are products that correspond to a wide range of ages, such as old-fashioned lattice patterns and animal illustrations.



Also, at this store, sales of rechargeable hot water bottles and battery-powered vests are also brisk.

Store manager Saya Sakamoto said, "There are many customers who want to keep their electricity bills down, so we want them to spend this winter happily and warmly with cold-weather goods."