In response to the tightening demand for electricity, the government has launched a system that grants electricity-saving points to households and businesses that cooperate in conserving electricity.
A few days ago, I received an e-mail from an electric power company saying that I had been awarded points for participation in an electricity conservation program.
My family buys electricity from Kyuden Mirai Energy. The reason we use Kyuden Mirai Energy instead of TEPCO is that we can earn miles when we pay with our JAL card and, as a native of Fukuoka, I want to support Kyuden.
Power-saving points are worth 2,000 yen just for participating, plus an additional 1,000 yen each month for saving 3% of electricity from January to March compared to the previous year.
Electricity prices themselves are rising due to soaring fuel and other costs, so saving electricity is important to keep the cost of living from rising. It is nice to get points, but they are not enough to cover the increase in electricity rates.
Electricity consumption at our house in December was 469 kilowatts at 20,493 yen. Incidentally, the electricity consumption in February of last year was 488 kilowatts at 14,033 yen, so the price has increased by more than 6,000 yen. The rate of increase is 52.2%.
TEPCO has applied to the government for a price increase of about 30% in March. It is not clear whether Kyuden Mirai Energy will follow suit. Incidentally, Kyushu Electric Power does not appear to be raising its prices. The reason Kyushu Electric is not raising its prices is probably because its two nuclear power plants (Genkai and Sendai) are in operation.
Anyway, let's try to save electricity and get energy-saving points.
