An industry ministry panel will propose a set of power industry reforms to the government that would enable households to select electricity suppliers from 2016 and force utilities to separate their energy generation and transmission businesses between 2018 and 2020.

The measures, which would represent the most significant postwar changes to the electricity industry, are intended to create a more competitive market by allowing new entrants to participate, ending the 10 utilities' regional monopolies, which the March 2011 natural and nuclear catastrophes proved were vulnerable.

Based on the proposals by the panel of experts Friday, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to submit a bill to revise the electricity business law during the ongoing Diet session.