Press Release Back Number(2006)

Loss of customer information (electricity usage notice)

February 17, 2006
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.

An electricity usage notice containing information on a Chubu Electric Power Co. customer was recently lost while a subcontractor read customer electric meters.


Chubu Electric Power offers its heartfelt apologies for the loss of this vital information on one of its customers.


The company quickly explained the circumstances of the loss to the customer affected and submitted an apology.


The company is deeply troubled by this incident, having previously instructed that customer information be handled with greater care. It will seek to ensure thorough implementation of stricter and more appropriate management of customer information, calling the attention of all employees to this case and working to increase employee awareness of the importance of protecting customer information.


1. Date and time of loss of customer information:

1:20 pm, Friday, February 17, 2006


2. Location of loss:

In the city of Toyota


3. Item lost:

One electricity usage notice


4. Customer information lost:

The following information concerning the affected customer:
(1) customer name; (2) customer number; (3) type of electricity contract and volume of electricity contracted for; (4) February meter-reading date, subject electricity usage period, number of days used, volume of usage; (5) planned billed amount; and (6) receipt for payment of January electricity charges (amount received). The lost form does not reveal the number of the customer's bank account used for payment or any related information.


5. Circumstances of the loss:


  • • The meter reader visited the customer's residence (on the fifth floor of a condominium building) to read the meter.
  • • The meter reader output the electricity usage notice from the portable meter-reading terminal and attempted to insert the form into the mail slot in the customer's door. At that moment, the meter reader lost the form to a sudden gust of wind.
  • • Unable to find the electricity usage notice after searching the area, the meter reader explained the circumstances to the customer affected and apologized. The meter reader also submitted a notice of this loss to the Toyota police station.
  • • Although Chubu Electric Power continues to search for the lost electricity usage notice, it has as of this date failed to recover it.
  • • At present, no notification has been received of any damages resulting from such loss of customer information

6. Measures to prevent recurrence of this incident:


  1. (1) The company will call the attention of all meter readers to this incident and reemphasize the importance of protecting personal information.
  2. (2) The company will instruct meter readers to exercise greater care in handling electricity usage notices, instructing them to keep in mind the potential for sudden gusts of wind when reading meters in condominiums and similar structures, particularly on windy days, and that winds may be stronger on upper floors than on lower levels. The company will also instruct meter readers to exercise greater care in handling electricity usage notices until the forms are securely inserted into customer mail slots.