Power Shortage Advisory Issued For Greater Tokyo Area For Third Straight Day
The Japanese government issued an advisory for possible power shortages in the greater Tokyo area for the third straight day on Wednesday.
It is calling on people to limit their electricity use as much as possible between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. while using air conditioners as needed to prevent heatstroke.
The daytime high in central Tokyo soared to 35 degrees Celsius or above for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday.
Temperatures in Tokyo and surrounding areas are also forecast to reach record levels on Wednesday, with some places expected to register 40 degrees Celsius.
The government expects the reserve power supply capacity ratio for the region to dip below 3.5 percent in the evening, the lowest in the three-day period through Wednesday.
This could occur even with measures in place, such as the receipt of extra supplies from other regions and the activation of generators held by businesses.
A thermal power plant in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, was due to be put back online on Wednesday. But the restart was delayed to Thursday because of repair work.
Power demand is thought to grow by roughly 1.5 million kilowatts if the mercury climbs by 1 degree beyond what is predicted by Tokyo Electric Power Company.
The government says it may raise the power shortage advisory to a warning if temperatures surge higher than forecast, or if any power plant experiences trouble.