4 major power suppliers to raise prices

The Yomiuri Shimbun
People walk streets of Ginza in the extreme heat in Tokyo on Sunday.

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Four of Japan’s 10 major electricity suppliers will raise their household rates in August amid soaring fuel prices, according to the 10 companies’ announcements Wednesday.

Of the four, Hokkaido Electric Power Co. will newly see its rates reach the ceiling set under the fuel price-linked electricity rate adjustment system.

So far, seven companies have seen their rates reach the limits. Of them, six will keep their household rates unchanged, while the remaining one, Kyushu Electric Power Co., will raise rates under a system to reflect costs to provide electricity on remote islands.

TEPCO Energy Partner Inc. will carry out the biggest price hike of ¥247 from July, bringing its rate for a standard household to ¥9,118. Chubu Electric Power Miraiz Co. plans an increase of ¥231 to ¥8,747.