Five major power companies, including Tohoku Electric Power and Chugoku Electric Power Co., have applied to the government to raise their electricity rates, known as regulated rates.
While members of the committee expressed their understanding of the price increase, there were also calls for further streamlining of management.
At a committee held by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on the 7th, Tohoku Electric Power Co., Hokuriku Electric Power Co., Chugoku Electric Power Co., Shikoku Electric Power Co., and Okinawa Electric Power Co. submitted an application late last month to raise electricity rates called "regulated rates." started.
Due to soaring fuel costs, Tohoku Electric Power requested an average price increase of 32.94%, Hokuriku Electric Power 45.84%, Chugoku Electric Power 31.33%, Shikoku Electric Power 28.08%, and Okinawa Electric Power 43.81% from April next year. I'm here.
The government's approval is required to raise the ``regulatory rate'', and Tohoku Electric Power President Yasujiro Higuchi said, ``It's a tough decision, but I think it's a necessary cost for the stable supply of electricity and the continuation of business.''
In response, the committee members who attended expressed their understanding of the price hike as fuel costs soared. has also risen.
In the future, the committee will examine whether each company's expenditures such as labor costs and fuel costs are appropriate, and will decide whether the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry will approve the price increase after holding a public hearing.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the final approval is expected to take about four months.
On the other hand, 10 major electric power companies such as Tokyo Electric Power Co. have announced that they will reduce electricity charges for usage from January to September next year as the government implements measures to reduce the burden of electricity charges.
From January to August next year, the price will be reduced by 7 yen per kilowatt-hour for households and 3.5 yen per kilowatt-hour for businesses, and will be reduced by 3.5 yen per kilowatt-hour for households and 1.8 yen per kilowatt-hour for businesses in September next year.