Report: Tepco plans to rise electricity bills by 10 percent in Japan

Report: Tepco plans to rise electricity bills by 10 percent in Japan

2011-12-10 07:21:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco), which operates the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, is planning to raise the cost of electricity by as much as 10 percent, local media reported on Friday.

Sources told the Kyodo news agency that Tepco is looking to implement the increase from the fall of 2012 as it seeks to restart nuclear reactors in Niigata Prefecture from the spring of 2013, which were suspended for checkups.

According to reports, the 10 percent increase is needed to restore the utility's finances as the ongoing nuclear crisis has also caused the increase in fuel costs by boosting thermal power generation.

However, with the harsh public sentiment regarding Tepco's role in the country's ongoing nuclear crisis, it remains uncertain whether the company will be able to have the electricity charges increase approved. It is also uncertain whether permission will be granted for Tepco to restart reactors as general concern continues regarding the safety of nuclear power.

On Tuesday, traces of radioactive material were found in Meiji baby formula in Japan, just several days after reports emerged of water leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Meiji Co. said the baby formula was found to contain radioactive cesium of up to 30.8 becquerels per kilogram (2.2 pounds) after a random sample was taken and examined by the company

While the cause of the contamination was not immediately clear, company officials believe the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is directly related. Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said such high levels of radioactive materials have not been found since the beginning of the country's nuclear crisis and said it is already planning new regulations for food products.

Japan has been facing an ongoing nuclear crisis since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was severely damaged on March 11 when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami devastated the country. The disaster disabled the cooling systems of the plant and radioactive elements leaked into the sea and were later found in water, air and food products in some parts of Japan.

At least 15,839 people were killed as a result of the earthquake and tsunami while 3,642 others remain missing. There are still more than 88,000 people who are staying in shelters in 21 prefectures across Japan.

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