The hot, humid summer is here and people and industries face the huge challenge of curbing electricity consumption to avoid large-scale blackouts stemming from power plant shutdowns amid the radiation crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear complex.
Many individuals and businesses are complying with recommendations, legally binding for large industries, by the government and the power industry to cut electricity use. Some are meanwhile taking the curbs a step further and plan to cut usage even in nonpeak hours, experts say.
Strictly speaking, to avoid blackouts consumption needs to be cut only at peak times, which in the summer is between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays — when air conditioners are cranked up high. The 11 a.m.-noon partial peak may also pose a blackout threat if people overdo their usage.