Efforts for Load Leveling

Nowadays, the seasonal and day-and-night gap of electricity demand tend to expand in proportion to the increase in electricity demand for cooling, interfering with effective use of power generation facilities, etc. Reduction of such gap of electricity demand as small as possible (load leveling) to efficiently operate the power facilities is expected to avoid the construction of new and additional power generation facilities, and also reduce CO2 emissions over the medium-to-long term. Tohoku EPCo is promoting its load leveling efforts in terms of both rate options and business development.

Image of Load Leveling

Completion of "Hanamaru HOT LAB" Environment Laboratory

We built an environment laboratory called "Hanamaru HOT LAB" within the Research & Development Center in December 2004 for the purposes of research and development of comfortable electric heating systems that are suitable for use in the Tohoku region. In the environment laboratory, we plan to simulate weather conditions in various parts of the Tohoku region, collect data such as comfort, cost efficiency, etc. of various heating units such as thermal storage electric heaters, and evaluate the best combination of heating units from an overall point of view.

The inside view of "Hanamaru HOT LAB" Environment Laboratory

Diversification of Rate Options

Reflecting the lifestyles and electricity usage of customers as well as regional characteristics, Tohoku EPCo is intended to diversify the rate options that can be selected by customers and promote efforts for load leveling.

Special Contract Options Recommended to Construct Fully Electrified Houses

Participation in "National Campaign" (Team Minus 6%) to Prevent Global Warming

As part of its efforts to prevent global warming, Tohoku EPCo has decided to participate in the "Team Minus 6%" national campaign to prevent global warming, and encouraged light clothing from June through September 2005. Through the participation in "Team Minus 6%," we will try to enhance the awareness of every one of our employees about global warming issues, and reduce CO2 emissions.

A meeting attended by employees in light clothes

Activities to Propose Effective Use of Energy

Tohoku EPCo carries out activities to offer proposals that help customers create comfortable houses and improve living environment such as electrification systems, thermal storage air-conditioning systems, etc., which are suitable for highly insulated and highly airtight houses, as effective use of energy, aiming at harmony with the environment.

Promotion of Wide Use of Electrification Systems Suitable for Highly Insulated and Highly Airtight Houses

Amid a growing interest in the environment and energy conservation in recent years, the needs for electrification systems suitable for highly insulated and highly airtight houses are increasing. Tohoku EPCo specially gives support to the general exhibition site of fully electrified house located in Nakayama, which is called "E-NA TOWN" (Aoba Ward in Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture), and promotes activities to propose comfortable and economical electrification systems such as the combination of pieces of equipment that uses electricity available late at night such as electric water heaters, thermal storage electric heaters, cooking heaters, etc.

The number of fully electrified houses built in Tohoku EPCo's service areas in FY2004 steadily increased by 15.2% (13,987 houses) from the previous fiscal year.

Introduction of Fully Electrified Houses (Cumulative)

Promotion of Wide Use of Electrified Kitchen Systems for Business Use

In the food business, the provision of "safe foods" is required first. In addition, the improvement of efficiency of management and that of comfort of work environment have become more important than ever. What can meet such requirements and realize safe and clean kitchen environment as well as effective use of energy is an "electrified kitchen for business use."

Tohoku EPCo's electrified kitchen, which has adopted a so called HACCP system that can realize the concept of sanitary management, is "worry-free, safe and clean" and boasts good usability. It is introduced in school lunch cooking facilities, hospitals, welfare facilities, food service industry, etc.

Electrified Kitchen System for Business Use (Cumulative)

Promotion of Wide Use of Thermal Storage Air-Conditioning System

Tohoku EPCo's thermal storage air-conditioning system is designed to store ice and hot water in a thermal storage tank by using relatively inexpensive night only services (from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.), and use the stored ice and hot water for heating or cooling during daytime. As for advantages for customers, it can reduce running costs and quickly start heating or cooling. It is also easy to use, and it is clean and environment friendly because of no combustion involved.

Moreover, Tohoku EPCo is fully prepared to support the wide use of the system, and it is introduced in offices, medical facilities, educational facilities, etc. as the air-conditioning system to realize comfort environment and energy conservation.

Introduction of Thermal Storage Air Conditioning Systems (Cumulative)

Promotion of Wide Use of Eco-Cute

Eco-Cute Specified for Cold Climate Areas

The Eco-Cute is a next-generation water heater that boils water by using the "heat of air." By utilizing the heat energy in the air and CO2 refrigerant that is superior in the high-temperature boiling characteristic, the Eco-Cute has the heating capacity more than three times as much as the input energy (COP 3.0 or higher). As it does not use CFC refrigerant, it has no effect on ozone depletion and less effect on global warming. It is an environment-friendly device.

The Agency of Natural Resources and Energy has declared a target of having 5.2 million units of the Eco-Cute come into wide use by FY2010 to cope with global warming issues.

For this purpose, the agency introduced a system in FY2002 to subsidize the introduction of the Eco-Cute through The Heat Pump & Thermal Storage Technology Center of Japan. From FY2005, the center decided to subsidize 80,000 yen to an existing house and 50,000 yen to a newly-built house respectively on a fixed-amount basis, placing more emphasis than ever on the introduction of the Eco-Cute in existing houses.

Mechanism of Eco-Cute