夏の節電―関電こそ先導すべきだ

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 8
EDITORIAL: Kansai Electric should lead regional power-saving drive
夏の節電―関電こそ先導すべきだ

Summer is just around the corner and the outlook for power supply and demand in the region served by Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) during the peak period remains murky.
　関西電力の夏の電力需給が見通せないまま、時間が過ぎている。

The Kansai region, which includes the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, clearly needs to prepare for dealing with the tight supply-demand conditions that would be created if the government's plan to reactivate two reactors at KEPCO’s Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture falls through.
大飯原発が再稼働しなくても、夏を乗り切らなければならない。

KEPCO, which is responsible for stable power supply to the region, is supposed to present specific options to ride out the sweltering summer without nuclear power. To save energy, it would need the cooperation of businesses and households.
　安定供給に責任を負う関電は具体的な選択肢を示し、企業や家庭に協力を求める立場だ。

But the utility has failed to do any such thing. Instead, it keeps stressing an urgent need to bring the reactors at the Oi plant back online. In short, the utility is not fulfilling its responsibility to consumers in the region.
　ところが関電は大飯の再稼働の必要性を強調する一方で、それがない場合の手だては不十分だ。これでは責任を果たしているとは言えない。

　「具体策を示さず、再稼働へ向け時間切れを狙うのか」

During a May 4 meeting of the energy strategy council jointly established by the Osaka prefectural and municipal governments, the senior KEPCO executives present were roundly criticized by council members. They were accused of waiting for time to run out without offering concrete plans to avoid a power crunch so that there will be no other choice but to resume operations of the idled reactors. The utility should take the criticism of the local governments to heart.
　４日に開かれた大阪府・市のエネルギー戦略会議では、出席した関電幹部に委員から厳しい意見が相次いだ。自治体側の声を重く受け止めてほしい。

KEPCO posted a record loss in last fiscal year because fuel costs increased sharply as it ramped up output at its thermal power plants to compensate for decreased nuclear power generation. We understand the financial difficulty the company is facing.
　火力発電の燃料費がかさみ、昨年度、関電は過去最大の赤字となった。企業としての台所事情はわかる。

But there are still strong concerns in the Kansai region about moves to bring idle reactors back to operation.
　だが、再稼働に対して関西では依然、慎重な声が多い。

In addition to Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka prefectures, as well as the city of Osaka, which have made their own recommendations and proposals on the issue, the Union of Kansai Governments, composed of seven prefectures and two cities, has also asked the central government to take additional safety measures before restarting the reactors.
　提言・提案を出した京都府と滋賀県、大阪府・市だけではなく、２府５県などでつくる関西広域連合も安全対策などを政府に申し入れた。

KEPCO should change its approach and initiate constructive talks with the local governments. It must provide whatever information is necessary so the region can avert blackouts due to an absence of nuclear power.
　関電は発想を転換し、夏を乗り切るために必要な情報を出し、自治体と対話すべきだ。

The local governments have also embarked on joint efforts to curb demand for electricity.
　自治体側も、需要抑制のために連携して乗り出している。

During a recent meeting of the union, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto proposed a program to provide financial incentives to companies that cut their power consumption. The incentives would be financed by a new tax that would cost households in the region 1,000 yen ($13) per month, according to his proposal.
　関西広域連合の会合では、大阪市の橋下徹市長が関西の住民に１カ月１千円の節電税を課して、節電に協力した企業に奨励金を出す構想を示した。

It is important to discuss a wide range of measures so that consumers are aware of the situation and can prepare for what they may face.
　利用者の覚悟や認識を深めるために、様々な手段を論議することは有意義だ。

The union has set up a special task force to hammer out plans to save power. It comprises officials responsible for the matter at the Osaka, Kyoto and Shiga prefectural governments.
　広域連合では大阪、京都両府や滋賀県などの担当者でチームをつくり節電策を検討中だ。

In a belated move, KEPCO has started working on measures to rein in demand for power.
　関電もようやく需要抑制の対策に動き出した。

One idea under consideration is a combination of rate hikes for peak hours and cuts for off-peak hours.
　ピーク時料金の値上げとオフピークの値下げ策がその一つ。

The utility is also considering the introduction of so-called negawatt power, a concept that regards power saved as power generated, and creating an electricity exchange where households and businesses can trade such negawatts.
使用電力を減らせば、同じ分を発電したものとみなす「ネガワット」を導入し、家庭や企業が節電分を取引できる市場の創設も考えている。

We hope the utility will come up with effective and easy-to-use plans as soon as possible.
　利用しやすいプランを、一日も早く示してほしい。

If the coming summer turns out as hot as the summer of 2010, there is likely to be a 16.3-percent power shortage during peak demand time in the Kansai region, according to KEPCO’s estimate. There may also be a 3.6-percent shortage across all of western Japan, estimates say.
　おととしの夏並みの猛暑となった場合、関電によると１６．３％の電力が不足する。西日本全体では３．６％の不足という。

But the days and hours when power demand actually peaks differ from area to area.
　だが電力使用がピークとなる日時は地域によって違う。

If Osaka is hit by an extreme heat wave but the summer in Kyushu proves normal, for instance, there will be considerable room for maneuvering through interchange of electricity between utilities.
大阪が猛暑でも九州が平年並みなら電力各社の融通幅も広がる。

A system for more flexible interchange of electricity between electric power companies was introduced last year. In eastern Japan, utilities frequently buy and sell electricity among themselves.
　昨年から電力会社間の融通が弾力的にできるようになり、東日本では融通が頻繁に行われている。

This system should also be used effectively by utilities in western Japan to capitalize on the regional power grid to avoid blackouts.
西日本でも広域送電網を駆使して、停電を回避する手だてにしたい。