Efforts for Load Leveling

In proportion to the increase in the number of air-conditioners, etc., the maximum demand where electricity consumption reaches the highest level of the year is expected to continue to increase. The increase in the seasonal and day-and-night gap of electricity demand becomes a factor that impairs efficient use of power generation equipment, etc. Minimizing such gap of electricity demand (load leveling) and promoting efficient operation of equipment is expected to avoid new and additional installation of power generation equipment and reduce CO2 emissions. Tohoku EPCo is promoting its load leveling efforts in terms of both rate options and business development.

Image of Load Leveling

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 "Team Minus 6%" National Campaign to Prevent Global Warming

Tohoku EPCo participates in "Team Minus 6%" national campaign to prevent global warming, and addresses on a company-wide basis the six actions called for by the campaign, i.e., (1) control of cooling temperature, (2) water conservation, (3) purchase of eco goods, (4) idling stop, (5) restraint in excessive packaging and (6) power conservation. At the same time, we also conducted a light clothing (no tie and no jacket) campaign from June 10 to September 30, 2005. Under the "Plan to Achieve the Targets of Kyoto Protocol," a call is made for everyone of the people as well as the central and local governments to cooperate in addressing measures against global warming as a basic concept of such measures. The Japanese government widely requests the people to participate in "Team Minus 6%." In response to such request, Tohoku EPCo participates in "Team Minus 6%" as an activity of each employee, and has decided to reinforce on a company-wide basis the efforts that we have promoted to date to prevent global warming such as setting of appropriate cooling and heating temperatures, shutoff of unnecessary lights, etc. Through such efforts, each employee is expected to raise awareness of global warming issues and try to reduce CO2 emissions. Our cool-biz campaign in FY2006 is slated to be carried out from June 1 to September 30.

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 Eco-Cute and electric water heaters, thermal storage electric heaters, and cooking heaters, etc.

The number of fully electrified houses built in Tohoku EPCo's service areas in FY2005 steadily increased by 117.7% (16,461 houses) from the previous fiscal year.

Introduction of Fully Electrified Houses

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.

Introduction of 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 System (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." As it efficiently collects heat from the air with its heat pump that uses CO2 refrigerant that is superior in the high-temperature boiling characteristic, it can create energy (heat value) more than input energy (electricity). Moreover, 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 appliance.

The Agency of Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry 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 Ministry has introduced a system to subsidize the introduction of the Eco-Cute through The Heat Pump & Thermal Storage Technology Center of Japan. The center subsidizes 50,000 yen to a newly-built house and 80,000 yen to an existing house (replacement purchase of water heater), placing higher priority to the introduction of the Eco-Cute in existing houses. We also aim to lower the price of the Eco-Cute (including installation cost) from about 700,000 yen at present to about 400,000 yen in FY2010.

In our service area, a cumulative total of 15,000 units of the Eco-Cute have been installed and adopted as of the end of FY2005. We plan to promote more active proposal and PR activities.

Mechanism of Eco-Cute