Carmakers are considering rotating production to curtail their overall electricity usage and avoid the disruptions caused by the rolling power outages expected this summer.
Carmakers are considering rotating production to curtail their overall electricity usage and avoid the disruptions caused by the rolling power outages expected this summer.
The move is in response to the announcement Friday by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), which services Tokyo and other parts of the Kanto region, that it would only be able to supply 80 percent of the estimated peak demand in the summer.
TEPCO's supply capacity has been significantly compromised after several plants in northeastern Japan, including the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and other thermal plants, were seriously damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11.
Japanese automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., have entered talks to decide which of their factories should suspend output and on which days, according to sources.
The step is designed to avert the disruption caused by TEPCO's rolling blackouts by trimming the industry's overall use of power.
The automakers are preparing to reduce their production to 70-80 percent of the pre-quake level, with the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association expected to work out the details of the energy-saving efforts.
Automakers' efforts would effect a reduction in power usage across the Japanese business circle, since a large number of businesses, subcontractors and sub-subcontractors are involved in the auto industry.
According to TEPCO's estimates, peak demand would hit 55,000 megawatts in the summer, but the company would only have the capacity to supply 46,500 megawatts.
A shortfall of 8,500-9,000 megawatts, or nearly 20 percent, would make large-scale power cuts almost inevitable.
"The shortfall will be far larger than it is now, so we need to seek the cooperation of residents in Tokyo's 23 wards," said Takashi Fujimoto, executive vice president of TEPCO.
Most of the wards have been spared from rolling power cuts so far.
The utility is considering asking businesses to close their factories on weekdays, instead of the weekend, as well as raising electricity rates during peak hours to dampen demand.
Electricity demand peaks between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in summer due to the widespread use of air conditioning.
The scheduled power outages would mean air conditioning would be cut in households and offices. Power would also be cut to fridges and freezers, meaning that households and stores would have to be prepared to deal with foodstuffs that would decompose faster than usual.
TEPCO currently has the capacity to supply 38,500 megawatts. This is expected to be increased by 8,000 megawatts by the end of July, when repair work on damaged thermal power plants will be finished and operations are restarted.
The utility's peak demand for this summer is 5,000 megawatts less than last summer, which was the hottest year in more than 100 years. The reduced projection also factored in the public's ongoing efforts to conserve energy.
Manufacturers have been unable to make vital components since rolling blackouts were introduced after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11. This is partly because electronic components and other parts requiring thermal processing need an uninterrupted supply of power.