Japan's electricity firms battle for customers

Tokyo

JAPANESE electricity retailers are battling over prices and services in a bid to attract customers ahead of the full liberalisation of electric power retailing in April 2016. Companies that plan to join the electricity industry started accepting applications for new electricity contracts in the Kanto and Kansai regions, while Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) announced a new fee plan last Thursday. Both existing power firms and newcomers alike are focusing on attracting customers who consume large quantities of electricity.

"If you bundle your electricity and gas services for a new contract, you can save money," a salesperson at a Tokyo Gas Co store said. Sales staff at Tokyo Gas started visiting their customers last Monday to explain how their electric fees will drop if they change their power supplier from Tepco. The firm has also stepped up its TV commercial campaigns, and received about 2,400 inquiries to its call centre in three days.