As always the people have to pay...

Tohoku Electric eyeing 11% household electricity rate hike

Tohoku Electric Power Co. is considering raising household electricity rates by around 11 percent on average from July, as its business conditions have worsened due to ballooning fuel costs related to operating thermal power plants to make up for the loss of nuclear energy, sources close to the matter said Friday.

The utility will possibly apply for government approval next week to implement the first electricity rate increase for households in 33 years. But the hike by the company covering the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan, which was hit hard by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, could adversely affect reconstruction efforts in the area.
[link to english.kyodonews.jp]
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