Japan government tells businesses and homes to cut power use 25%

[phantom power]

The Japanese government on Friday told businesses and domestic users to cut power usage by as much as 25% from July, ignoring industry suggestions of alternative ways of coping with the national energy crisis.

The Japan Automotive Manufacturers Association had called for a "rotational output suspension", with different industries stopping production on different days of the week, while the Japan Aluminum Association proposed a cap on power usage by companies.

The government's plan announced Friday said companies in the service area of Tokyo Electric Power Company, or Tepco, and Tohoku Electric Power Company will be asked to cut power usage by 20-25% from July to September, when power consumption peaks on air conditioning demand.

Large consumers, whose power usage exceeds 500 kWh, will have to cut power demand by 25% from 10:00-21:00 (0100-1200 GMT) on weekdays, with users of less than 500 kWh down 20%, and homes 15-20%, the government said.

One source in the automotive industry said the plan seemed to have been drawn up with little consultation with the affected industries.

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Metals/8768344

[GliderGuider]

1. Finally, a test case for powerdown in a modern industrial society!

:popcorn:

[phantom power]

2. Yeah, I'm guessing the data will show "it doesn't work very well"

[jwirr]

3. Not the post oil era - the post nuke era. What other sources of energy

do they have access to? Maybe they will come up with some ideas for the world in how to transition from what we have had in the past and what we need to do after oil depletion.