News that the Kansai region will be asked to cut summer power consumption by at least 15 percent and that plans are afoot for outright restrictions on electricity use, including rolling blackouts, was greeted calmly by area political leaders and residents.
The government and Kansai Electric Power Co. say a variety of electricity-conservation steps will be needed if reactors 3 and 4 at Kepco's Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture are not restarted soon. But despite the warnings, several media opinion polls throughout Kansai have shown that up to two-thirds of residents want the reactors to remain shut down and local leaders are preparing for a long, hot summer.
The Osaka, Kyoto and Shiga governors expressed support for introducing electricity-saving measures, especially during the summer peak usage period in July and August.