J-Gov warns of power outage in eastern Japan 22 March

The warning comes as the government and some utilities have called on people to reduce their electricity consumption after a large earthquake last week has constricted power supplies. Industry minister Koichi Hagiuda called on people in Tokyo and eight other prefectures on Tuesday to reduce their electricity consumption despite unseasonably cold weather as the aftermath of a large earthquake last week constricts power supply. The request came a day after the government issued a warning over electricity availability and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc (TEPCO) suggested there could be shortages in the region it services, with some thermal power plants remaining offline after Wednesday's quake that hit Japan's northeast. Hagiuda told a press conference the government may ask for "greater cooperation" in the future to reduce consumption, depending on how the situation evolves. TEPCO says it has since 7 a.m. received electricity from seven other power distributors including Chubu Electric Power Co, which serves Nagoya and surrounding areas. TEPCO and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are asking households and workplaces to conserve energy by turning off lights when not needed and setting heating to a maximum of 20 C, with the utility's client companies also asked to cooperate.

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Japan is scrambling to keep the lights on in Tokyo on Tuesday, as freezing temperatures and power plant outages following a strong earthquake last week put the nation's capital at risk of blackouts. The situation across the Tokyo area is "extremely tight," and there could be partial power outages if the supply shortfall continues, according to an official at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., adding that there currently aren't plans for rolling blackouts. Tepco said up to 3 million households could suffer blackouts after 8 p.m. if power saving efforts are inadequate.

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