Overview
- The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced it will not ask households or businesses to cut power use this coming winter after officials reviewed an expert-compiled supply-demand outlook.
- The decision rests on the panel’s finding that nationwide supply can be stably secured even under cold conditions, so no formal voluntary節電要請 (electricity-saving request) will be made.
- This is the fourth consecutive winter the government has opted not to issue a seasonal conservation appeal, continuing a recent pattern of positive supply assessments.
- Regional utility forecasts, including a Hokkaido Network outlook, say even a very cold winter would leave at least the minimum reserve margin needed for stable supply, which underpins METI’s judgment.
- Households and businesses face no new mandatory measures now, but officials and utilities will monitor demand and outages closely and could revise guidance if conditions change.