In response to the Fair Trade Commission's policy of ordering a surcharge on major power companies such as Chugoku Electric Power Co. for forming cartels over sales of electricity to businesses, Chugoku Electric Power Co. has paid a special amount of more than 70 billion yen. announced a loss.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission ordered Chugoku Electric Power Co., Chubu Electric Power Co., and its sales subsidiaries, and Kyushu Electric Power Co. to pay a total of more than 100 billion yen in fines for forming a cartel in the sale of electricity to businesses. The policy was established and notified to each company.



In response to this, Chugoku Electric Power announced on the 2nd that it will post an extraordinary loss of 70.7 billion yen, which the Fair Trade Commission has requested payment.



Chugoku Electric Power's earnings forecast for the entire group this fiscal year was expected to result in a record deficit of 139 billion yen due to the impact of soaring fuel prices at thermal power plants. With the recording of , the deficit will widen further, and is expected to reach a deficit of 209.7 billion yen.



Chugoku Electric Power commented, ``In the future, we will carefully examine and confirm the contents of the hearing notice from the Fair Trade Commission, and after receiving explanations about evidence, etc., we will carefully consider our response.''