Tokyo Gas Co. said Thursday its gas sales for fiscal 2002 grew 13.5 percent from a year earlier to a record 10.46 billion cubic meters, topping the 10 billion mark for the first time.
The utility attributed the robust sales to increased demand for hot water and heating as temperatures were relatively low throughout the year.
Gas sales for factory use rose 23.6 percent to 3.6 billion cubic meters, accounting for 34.4 percent of the total sales and surpassing sales for household use for the first time.
Sales of gas for household use increased 5.9 percent to 3.25 billion cubic meters, and those for commercial use rose 9.6 percent to 2.5 billion cubic meters, it said.