Hokkaido faces power cut

Hokkaido needs to cut electricity usage.

This was the finding of a government panel, who estimated that 580,000 kw, or 10.3 percent of the estimated maximum demand of 5.63 million kw, would need to be saved in its service area this winter.

This is to allow Hokkaido Electric Power Co. to secure a safety margin of 3 percent, considered the minimum necessary level to ensure a stable supply.

The panel noted that if the power from Hokkaido Electric Power Co. were to drop by as much as 1.37 million kw, the total supply capacity would fall below demand by 7.7 percent.

The panel is currently focusing on Hokkaido because electricity demand there peaks in winter.

Meanwhile, the panel said that all regional power suppliers will likely be able to secure the reserve capacity of 3 percent or more in January and February, the peak winter months.

This is because conservation efforts have been taking hold across the nation, according to the panel, which is headed by Shinkun Haku, a senior vice minister in the Cabinet Office.

The panel warned that supply will be tight in Hokkaido if a large thermal power plant there and facilities for transmitting electricity between Hokkaido and Honshu were to stop simultaneously.

To mitigate the risk, maintenance work at power plants and related facilities, as well as conservation measures should be beefed up, it said.

Currently, 48 of Japan's 50 nuclear power reactors are idle, including the three at Hokkaido Electric's Tomari plant.

Power suppliers have been required to increase thermal power generation and face surging fuel costs as a result.

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