On July 1, the government started imposing a 15 percent power consumption cut on large-lot users serviced by Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Tohoku Electric Power Co. Small-lot users, including households, are also called on to reduce power consumption by 15 percent. Other power companies are also calling on companies and people to save power. The accidents at Tepco's Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant have made the electricity saving efforts necessary.
In summer, electricity demand peaks at around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. because people use air conditioners in full during that time. The most important thing is to avoid power demand surpassing the power supply. This will cause a large-scale blackout, paralyzing society and even causing death to some people, especially the sick who are dependent on electricity-driven apparatuses. Companies and people should heed predictions by the government and power companies of the power supply and demand.
Manufacturers and other companies have taken such measures as operating on Saturdays and Sundays, stopping operations during the weekdays and changing the day's operation hours.
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