The Tokyo Electric Power Co. plans to enter natural gas wholesaling in fiscal 2004 by leasing pipelines owned by Tokyo Gas Co., Tepco sources said Monday.
Currently, there are 16 small and midsize gas retailers in the Kanto region that count on Tokyo Gas, the sources said, adding that Tepco wants to make some of them its own clients.
Because the pipelines of retailers other than Otaki Gas and Keiyo Gas, both in Chiba Prefecture, are not connected to its wholesale pipelines, Tepco plans to use Tokyo Gas pipelines on the assumption that a bill to enable access by rival wholesalers clears the Diet and goes into effect in April 2004, according to the sources.