The government on Tuesday approved rate hikes on household electricity supplied by Kansai Electric Power Co. and Kyushu Electric Power Co.
The utilities say they need the increases, which will take effect May 1, to pay for surging fuel costs at their thermal power plants, which are running full bore to make up for the loss of nuclear energy in due to the Fukushima crisis.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi endorsed an average increase of 9.75 percent for Kansai Electric and 6.23 percent for Kyushu Electric.