Winter electricity-saving campaign starts

Power-saving efforts have begun in the western Japanese city of Kitakyushu due to concerns over a possible energy shortage this winter.

The city launched the 5-month electricity-saving campaign on Tuesday, calling for employees to dress warmly and use less heating.

Heaters will be set at 19 degrees Celsius at about 190 municipal facilities, including city hall and ward offices.

Workers are encouraged to keep themselves warm with cardigan sweaters, lap robes and hot drinks.

The central government will ask households and companies in the Kyushu region to voluntarily cut their electricity consumption by more than 5 percent.

All nuclear power plants operated by the Kyushu Electric Power Company will be halted for regular checkups by the end of the year.

A city official said he supports the initiative because he has heard about the tight power supply that is expected this winter.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011 17:02 +0900 (JST)