A subsidiary of Kansai Electric Power Co. on Sunday asked solar and wind power suppliers to temporarily halt electricity generation.
Kansai Transmission and Distribution Inc. took the step as electricity consumption in Kansai Electric's service areas had been seen decreasing on the day due to closures of factories while solar power generation had been projected to increase amid the good weather, probably leading to a surplus in electricity produced.
It was the first time for Kansai Electric, which serves the Kansai region, to ask solar and wind power suppliers to suspend electricity generation.
A large-scale power outage could occur if the balance between supply and demand is lost.
On Sunday, solar and wind power generation was suspended between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Without the suspension, electricity supply in the Kansai electric areas would have exceeded demand by 470,000 kilowatts.
In recent years, cases of major power companies asking renewable power suppliers to curb power generation have been on the rise reflecting an increase in the number of renewable energy facilities.
Nine out of the 10 major power companies in Japan, excluding Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., have implemented such measures.
