Press Release

Press Release

The State of Chubu Electric Power Supply and Demand Measures This Summer Given the Suspension of Operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station(as of May 23, 2011)

May 23, 2011
Chubu Electric Power Co.,Inc.

This is to announce that today the Electric Power Supply and Demand Task Force of Chubu Electric Power summarized a supply and demand outlook for this summer that reflects supply and demand measures decided on at this time, and also summarized the issues that we continue to examine.

On May 06, the Prime Minister of Japan issued a request that Chubu Electric Power suspend operations in all reactors at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, and Chubu Electric Power received the request from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry on the same day. Chubu Electric Power has considered how to respond to this request and decided on May 09 to suspend operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, Reactors No. 4 and 5 and to postpone the resumption of operations at Reactor No. 3. Because we expect electric power supply and demand to be challenging hereafter, we established an Electric Power Supply and Demand Task Force the same day to examine how to ensure a stable supply of electric power (previously announced on May 09, 2011).

In addition to quitting supplementation of electric power to the 50 Hz (East Japan) region, we have decided to resume operations of thermal power units under a long-term planned shutdown and change periodic inspection times for thermal power equipment, among other measures. These measures are expected to enable us to increase supply capacity by up to 730 MW and give us a reserve margin of about 5% this summer at this stage. However, this still does not meet the 8% - 10% reserve margin that is the usual criterion for stable supply.

Chubu Electric Power will make every effort to avoid situations that cause difficulty for the public, such as imposing planned power outages or asking our customers for across-the-board electricity usage restrictions.

Power demand peaks during the daytime on summer weekdays. While we regret the inconvenience, we ask our customers to do all they can to help conserve energy during the daytime on summer weekdays.

We forecast that this summer electric power supply and demand will be extremely challenging between 13:00 and 16:00 on Monday through Wednesday of each week.

We therefore ask our customers for particular cooperation in conserving energy between 13:00and 16:00 on Monday through Wednesday.

1. Supply-side measures

(1) Measures decided as of today

  • Terminating supplementation of electric power from Chubu Electric Power*
  • Postponing the long-term planned shutdown of Taketoyo Thermal Power Station, Unit No.3.*
  • Resuming operations of thermal power units under a long-term planned shutdown (Taketoyo Thermal Power Station, Unit No. 2 and the gas turbines of Chita Daini Thermal Power Station, Unit No. 2)
  • Changing periodic inspection times and shortening the inspection process for thermal power equipment (examination continuing)
  • Changing work stoppage time at hydroelectric power stations
  • Urgently expanding operating capacity of Mie Higashiomi Line connecting to the network of Kansai Electric Power
  • Focusing inspections on power stations, related power transmission and transformer equipment, etc.

*Previously announced May 09, 2011

(2) Issues we continue to examine

  • Receiving power supplements from other power companies
  • Purchasing electric power from businesses, etc. other than power companies
  • Additional procurement of fuel (LNG and oil)                 Etc.

2. Demand-side measures

(1) Measures decided as of today

  • Visiting customers and using our web site, etc. to ask for energy conservation
  • Practicing thorough energy conservation at all Chubu Electric Power and Group company business sites

(2) Issues we continue to examine

  • Asking private power plants to increase output
  • Expanding supply and demand adjustment contracts (planned adjustment contracts)      Etc.

With the cooperation of our customers and support from the government and other relevant organizations, Chubu Electric Power will make every effort to provide a stable supply of electric power.

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