Press Release Back Number(2006)

Expansion of the number of municipalities qualifying for special handling of electricity charges and other special measures for customers suffering from heavy snowfall

January 12, 2006
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.

Chubu Electric Power offers its heartfelt sympathy to customers suffering from the recent heavy snowfall in Japan.

Customers in regions qualifying for application of the Disaster Relief Act or neighboring regions who have been badly affected by the record snowfall arising from the cold wave that began in mid-December 2005 may apply to Chubu Electric Power for special handling of electricity charges and other special measures. (These measures were previously announced on January 10, 2006.)

Since Yamanouchi-machi in Shimotakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture has recently qualified for application of the Disaster Relief Act, the number of regions eligible for special handling of electricity charges and other special measures has been expanded, as shown below.


1. Additional eligible region:

Takayama-mura in Kamitakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture (neighboring Yamanouchi-machi in Shimotakai-gun)


Note: Yamanouchi-machi in Shimotakai-gun has already been made eligible for special handling of electricity charges and other special measures (as of January 10, 2006).


2. Details of primary special measures available:

(1) Extension of periods for early payment and regular payment of electricity charges:

The periods for early payment and regular payment of electricity charges for the months of December 2005 (for which the deadline for early payment is January 12, 2006) and January and February 2006 will be extended by one month each.

Note 1: The period for early payment refers to the 20-day period beginning the day after the meter-reading date. Electricity charges paid after this period are subject to a 3% late-payment charge added to the following month's charges.

Note 2: For customers paying under the metered-rate system, the period for regular payment refers to the 50-day period beginning the day after the meter-reading date, on which the payment obligation begins.


(2) Exemption of electricity fees for the months during which electricity is not used:

Eligible customers will be exempted from payment of the basic electricity fee for months in which no electricity is used, for a period of up to six consecutive months beginning when the damage was sustained.


(3) Exemption from payment of construction and other charges usually borne by the customer:

Customers sustaining damage who apply to use electricity under the same terms and conditions as under their previous service contracts will not be required to pay the construction charges usually borne by the customer.

In addition, customers sustaining damage who apply to change the installation locations of power lines to their buildings, their electricity meters, or similar equipment will not be required to pay the related initial construction charges.

This exemption from payment of construction and other charges is available for applications made on or before July 31, 2006.


(4) Exemption from payment of emergency construction charges:

Customers sustaining damage who apply to use emergency power or emergency lamps will not be required to pay the related emergency construction charges.

This exemption from payment of emergency construction charges is available for applications made on or before July 31, 2006.


(5) Exemption from payment of the basic electricity fee for facilities unusable due to snow damage:

Through July 31, 2006, eligible customers will be exempt from payment of the basic electricity fee for electric equipment rendered temporarily unusable due to snow damage.


3. Other notes:

In connection with the application of the Disaster Relief Act, these measures have been applied as supply conditions in addition to those covered in the supply agreement, pursuant to the proviso to Article 21, Paragraph 1 of the Electricity Utility Law.