The government plans to forgo requesting that power be conserved this summer for the first time since the March 2011 quake and subsequent nuclear accident that caused a major electricity shortage, government officials said Friday.
Since the disaster, the government has asked homes and companies to make energy-saving efforts like switching off lights at peak usage times in both summer and winter, but a ministerial meeting Friday judged the explicit request would no longer be necessary due to anticipated electricity supply stability and people having adjusted their behavior.
Although energy saving practices have become standard practice in recent years, and along with the restart of some reactors that were taken offline in the wake of the disaster, severe power shortages are no longer as likely, they said.
"There is no change in (expectations for people and businesses) continuing to take power-saving measures," an official of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry said, despite the government deciding not to make the request to conserve electricity.