Planned Power Outage

Although “a planned power outage is not implemented, in principle,” it refers to the planned stoppage of electricity use to prevent the occurrence of an unforeseeable and large-scale power outage that may occur during an extremely severe situation of supply and demand. This includes when the demand for electric power is expected to surpass the supply capabilities, due to damage to the power supply network caused by a major earthquake or similar event.

Not carrying out a planned power outage may disrupt the balance of the amount of electricity used and generated, which will prevent the generator from operating stably and stop all together, and possibly resulting in a wide-area and sudden power outage.

We are responding to the statement from a government committee that “A planned power outage is not implemented, in principle; however, we consider it appropriate to reconfirm, review and announce the reasoning for a planned power outage, such as its use as an operational procedure to prepare for an emergency or other unforeseen event.” This is why the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO) and 10 general power transmission and distribution operators have reviewed and announced the reasoning for a planned power outage, such as its use as an operational method to prepare for an emergency or other unforeseen event.

We have made an announcement now, as we have been able to organize our operational procedures, etc.

This definitely does not mean that we are scheduling a planned power outage in alignment with this announcement.

As of July 2018, the supply and demand of electric power is stable, and there is no concern of a planned power outage occurring.

A planned power outage may be implemented as a last-resort measure to avoid an unforeseen and large-scale power outage from occurring. Such a planned power outage may occur in the event that multiple power generation facilities stop operating due to a large scale disaster or similar event and supply capabilities cannot cover even just the demand for electric power, even if demand response measures are launched to contain demand and increase output at thermal power plants, or if the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO) adapts the power supply to a wide area, or the government calls for energy-saving measures, or similar measures are implemented.

[Note] Demand response: Measures to limit the demand for electricity.

　It is possible, according to the supply and demand situation.

Basically, you will not be able to use the electricity generated by solar power, as the voltage that passes through the power transmission network cannot be adjusted during a power outage.

Please inquire with the manufacturer of your power-generating equipment about operational procedures during a power outage.

Depending on the product, you may still be able to keep using electricity from the battery even during a power outage.

Please inquire with the manufacturer or installation company of your storage battery for further details.

In principle, all customers within the area where electric power demand and supply is tight are asked to cooperate with the planned power outage.

Some facilities will have the impact lessened as much as possible, in accordance with the “Planned Power Outages as a Safety Net” outlined at a joint meeting of the Electricity Supply-Demand Review Meeting and the Energy and Environment Council in 2012.

Each planned power outage time slot has been set at around two hours, in accordance with the “Planned Power Outages as a Safety Net” outlined at a joint meeting of the Electricity Supply-Demand Review Meeting and the Energy and Environment Council in 2012.

Each time slot is set to be two hours and thirty minutes (for example, 8:30–11:00) to allow enough time for the planned power outage and subsequent restoration of electricity. The planned power outage for your time slot will actually be around two hours, in order to follow the order of operations.

In order to minimize the impact on society of power outages, we have segmented the power outage areas so as not to be partial to any particular area, and to avoid as much as possible a power outage occurring at the same time in an adjacent area.

In order to minimize the impact on society of an implemented planned power outage, we have segmented the power outage areas so as not to be partial to any particular area, and to avoid as much as possible a power outage occurring at the same time in an adjacent area.

Furthermore, we have set groups and subgroups by also taking into consideration the need to secure a specific power outage volume according to the supply and demand situation.

For customers who are unable to check which group they are in using the website’s group search system, when it is highly likely there will be a planned power outage in an area, we will set up an inquiry desk that can be accessed by phone or other methods.

When it is highly likely there will be a planned power outage in an area, we will once again inform customers of this.