When Kansai Electric Power Co. announced it would ask its customers to cut back on electricity usage this summer, fearing supply shortages, it also dashed Chubu Electric Power Co.'s hopes of receiving electricity from the that utility.
In response, Chubu Electric has fired up long-dormant thermal power plants to generate sufficient supply for the summer months, when electricity demand peaks.
However, supply may still prove insufficient, and with power from other utilities likely to be transferred to Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Kepco, which are facing much bigger shortfalls, Chubu Electric has been left with few options to ensure a stable supply of electricity to its service area.