The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has asked Chubu Electric Power Co. to supply electricity to City Hall, Vice Gov. Naoki Inose said Saturday.
"We want to show that we have various options over our electricity supply," Inose said, referring to the Nagoya-based utility.
The metro government has slammed a plan by Tokyo Electric Power Co. to hike electricity rates for large-lot users by 17 percent, which would boost its electricity bill by an additional ¥100 million starting in April.
Chubu Electric said Inose submitted the request Wednesday to its Tokyo branch. "We're weighing the matter and can't give any specific details" at this stage, an official at the utility said.
City Hall logged total demand of 11,000 kw in fiscal 2010. It plans to procure 8,000 kw from Chubu Electric and 3,000 kw from a Tokyo Gas Co. subsidiary in fiscal 2012, officials said.