Low Rate Category for Low Wattage Lighting to Boost Use of LED Street Lights

Image by Ted Percival. Some Rights Reserved.

Ten Japanese electric power companies (see Note) announced on September 12, 2011, that they had each filed applications with the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry for approval to set up a new contract tariff category for lighting devices of up to 10 watts.

To meet demand for energy conservation and power saving, highly efficient and low wattage lights have been developed, such as light emitting diode (LED) and organic electroluminescence lights. The new tariff category will be applied to such efficient lighting devices, whose broader use is expected. Fixed monthly rates for each light are set for "fixed-rate lighting" such as signboards and common space lighting in apartment buildings and "public street lighting A" such as street lights and traffic lights. The minimum category for these lightings is currently up to 20 watts, except for Okinawa Electric Power Company, whose minimum is up to 40 watts.

Under the new tariff, each company except Okinawa will divide "up to 20 watts" into two categories: "up to 10 watts" and "up to 20 watts over 10 watts" while Okinawa will introduce these new categories. The rate for "up to 10 watts" will be set lower than before, while the other rates will remain the same. Tariff rates are different for each company. For Tokyo Electric Power Co., for example, the rate for each lighting device up to 20 watts over 10 watts is 121.26 yen (about US $1.6) for fixed-rate lighting and 108.66 yen (about US $1.4 ) for public street lighting A, while the rate up to 10 watts has been set at 84.78 yen (about US $1.1) and 75.33 yen (about US $1.0), respectively. The new rates are scheduled to be applied from December 1, 2011.

Note: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo, Chubu, Hokuriku, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyusyu and Okinawa Electric Power Companies

Posted: 2011/11/27 06:00:15 AM