Press Release Back Number(2007)

Concerning Submission of Report in Response to Government "Request for Report on Hydroelectric Power Facilities"

March 14, 2007
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.

On February 15, 2007, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport sent Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. a directive entitled "Request for Report on Hydroelectric Power Facilities" ordering the Company to investigate three things: 1) obstacles to proper observation and record-keeping of water intake, etc., 2) violation of River Law Article 23 and conditions relating to permits based on the same article(*1), and 3) other cases possibly violating river laws and regulations.


The Company has compiled this report, which was submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport today.


< Report overview >

1. Investigation results

1) Water drawing and usage limit adjustments: all 183 power stations

The amount of water intake and water usage was improperly recorded to show that maximum intake and maximum usage were not exceeded.


2)-1 Drawing of water for power station cooling and miscellaneous uses: 69 sites

In regards to power station cooling water and miscellaneous-use water(*2), the Company drew water from rivers and channels for uses not directly concerned with power generation.


2)-2 Water intake not conforming to water usage rules: 1 site

A Chubu Electric power station with multiple sluice gates drew more water than that allowed under water usage rules.


3) Inadequate procedures relating to overhead wires, etc. under River Law Article 24: 14 sites

The Company did not undertake river usage application procedures under River Law Article 24(*3) for control and communication lines, etc. which are part of the power station equipment.


2. Causes and measures to prevent recurrence

1) Water drawing and usage limit adjustments

Water drawing and usage limit adjustments were performed to account for control delays and errors in relation to the natural changes in river levels. The Company has stopped performing these limit adjustments.


2)-1 Drawing of water for power station cooling and miscellaneous uses

The drawing of miscellaneous-use water directly from rivers has been discontinued by March 13.
In cases where the Company has drawn cooling water and miscellaneous-use water from power generation channels in amounts exceeding the permitted limits, we are dealing with the situation by consulting with river administrators and making immediate improvements, such as by limiting output in consideration of the ratio of the amount of these types of water drawn to the maximum intake.


2)-2 Water intake not conforming to water usage rules

We are consulting with the river administrator and making immediate improvements.


3) Inadequate procedures relating to overhead wires, etc. under River Law Article 24

This situation occurred because of poor understanding about making application under the River Law. We are working with river administrators on how to deal with the situation and taking corrective measures.


Chubu Electric recognizes that it dealt with these situations inappropriately and that its procedures were inadequate. For this, we apologize sincerely to the local community and everyone concerned.

We have determined that these problems do not pose a threat to equipment safety. However, we are committed to faithfully following through on the recurrence prevention measures described here and will work for full compliance.

Moreover, we have determined that the issues brought to light by this investigation were largely the unintentional result of long-standing practices at the Company's hydroelectric power facilities. There was no intentional misconduct.


Chubu Electric will continue its investigation of hydroelectric, thermal and nuclear power facilities and will report its findings by the end of March of this year in keeping with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's directive of November 30, 2006 relating to inspections of power generation equipment.


*1 River Law Article 23 and conditions relating to permits based on the same article

  • • River Law Article 23, Permission for Use of River Water
    A party seeking to make use of a river's water must get the permission of the river administrator as prescribed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
  • • Permits based on River Law Article 23
    Intake volume, etc. as stipulated by water usage rules

*2 Power station cooling water and miscellaneous-use water

  • • Power station cooling water:
    Water used to cool down generators
  • • Miscellaneous-use water:
    Primarily, water used in lavatories of dam lookouts, etc.

*3 River usage application procedures under River Law Article 24

  • • A party seeking to occupy land in a river zone must get the permission of the river administrator as prescribed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.


Attachment: Report in Response to Government "Request for Report on Hydroelectric Power Facilities"