THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
March 23, 2022 at 16:48 JST
Tokyo Skytree turns off the night-time illumination to save electricity on March 22. (Ryo Kato)
The government on March 23 lifted all warnings for a possible blackout after the Tokyo area narrowly escaped a widespread power outage.
The economy ministry said the warning for areas serviced by Tokyo Electric Power Co., including the capital, was lifted at 11 a.m.
The warning for places in northern Japan supplied by Tohoku Electric Power Co. ended on the evening of March 22.
Predictions of soaring energy demand in the chilly temperatures of March 22, coupled with supply shortages caused by quake damage to thermal power plants, prompted pleadings from the government and the utilities for the public to conserve energy to avoid blackouts.
At one point on March 22, the usage rate for TEPCO’s electricity supply exceeded 100 percent, and the company said a nighttime blackout in the Tokyo area was a possibility.
As of 9 a.m. on March 23, the usage rate was down to 93 percent.
TEPCO said that figure still represents “a somewhat tough situation.”
But the weather has improved and the amount of solar power produced has increased, the ministry said.
The usage rate for power supplied by Tohoku Electric Power was 85 percent as of 9 a.m. on March 23, a stable situation based on the utility’s standard.
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