Seven major electric companies have applied to the industry ministry to boost their energy prices, causing further concern for households worried about rising costs.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) recently applied to raise its electricity prices for households by an average of 29.31% from June. Hokkaido Electric Power applied on Thursday for an average increase of about 32%, also from June.

In late November, five other power companies — Tohoku Electric Power, Hokuriku Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Shikoku Electric Power and Okinawa Electric Power — applied for government approval of plans to raise household electricity prices by between 28% and 46% from April.

If its price hike is approved, a standard household consuming 260 kilowatts under Tohoku Electric, for example, would experience an increase of around ¥8,500 ($66) to ¥11,000 in their electricity bill every month. For Tepco, the monthly bill for a standard household consuming the same amount of energy is projected to increase by ¥2,611 to a total of ¥11,737, up from the current ¥9,126.

The government is offering energy companies subsidies to lower electricity rates by ¥7 per kilowatt-hour for households from this January to August, but halving the subsidy for September. But this still cannot stave off the rate hike.

Here’s what you need to know to prepare for the increase in electricity prices:

How can you save on basic power costs?

Decreasing the amperage level of a household's circuit breaker can help cut costs.

Each household has an ampere breaker and a “amperage system” contract with a power company, and the basic fee is determined according to the amount of electricity used.

Amperage value determines the maximum amount of electricity a household can use at one time. The higher the amperage contracted with a power company, the more power a household can use at the same time without tripping the breaker, which means that the basic fee will be higher.

To allow for a lower amperage, households can refrain from using multiple electronics at the same time.

For Hokuriku Power, every 10A decrease between 60A and 10A can save around ¥240 per month.

Households can calculate the amperage level (A) by dividing the power consumption needed (W) based off their electrical appliances and their voltage (V). For example, the amperage (A) of a microwave oven with the power consumption of 1400 watts (W) is 1400W divided by 100V (Japanese voltage is 100 volts), which is an amperage of 14 (A).

How can you reduce electricity use this winter?

Air conditioners use more than 30% of electricity in a household. The machine works by making up the difference between the temperature outside and the temperature the system is set to, which is why electricity bills tend to be higher in the summer and winter. As such, reducing the need for air conditioning can help cut bills.

It is estimated that about 60% of heat in a house escapes through windows and other openings during winter.

Using thick, long curtains, insulating sheets and film, as well as having double-paned windows, to prevent the heat from escaping can be an effective way to weather the severe cold, which is expected to continue in Japan.

Draping the curtains from the ceiling to the floor can also help prevent airflow from gaps and increase heat retention during winter.

To quickly warm up a room, point the air conditioner panels downward, as the warm air will naturally rise and spread.

Using a circulator instead of raising the temperature setting can also help reduce energy usage.

By stirring up the cold air near the floor and the warm air that accumulates near the ceiling, uneven temperature differences can be eliminated and ensure that the room is thoroughly heated.

A study has shown that using just an air conditioner’s heater can consume about 6.95 kW per hour, costing around ¥215. Using a circulator helps reduce that to 6.53 kW per hour at a cost of around ¥202.

How can I check my electricity usage in real time?

Some electric companies have phone and website applications that allow people to monitor their electricity bills.

The major power companies mentioned above have smartphone applications that allow users to see how much electricity they use on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Also, the government is promoting a project to switch all power meters to smart meters by the end of 2024.

Smart meters can measure and tally power consumption every 30 minutes, making it possible to grasp data not on a monthly basis as with mechanical meters, but in detail at different times of the day. When linked to smart home appliances or Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), they allow households to see and check power usage in real-time.

Tepco has had them installed since 2020, and Kansai Electric and Chubu Electric have since last year. Meanwhile, Hokkaido Electric, Tohoku Electric, Hokuriku Electric, Chugoku Electric, Shikoku Electric and Kyushu Electric aim to have them installed within this year, and Okinawa Electric plans to have them installed in 2024.