Kyushu Electric Power Company subsidiary Kyuden Mirai Energy announced that it submitted its application to the Minister of Economics, Trade and Industry to register as a power retailer. Concurrent with the Japanese government’s plans to liberalize the electricity and gas markets, more power retailers will be necessary starting this April. The subsidiary runs solar and wind generation facilities, but for the time being it will purchase power from wholesale markets for resale. It is mulling plans to sell electricity to household customers outside of Kyushu, effectively covering those areas that Kyuden does not service. As of Dec. 28, there are 119 registered power retailers in Japan, several of which are subsidiaries of the big regional utilities. Source: RKB News 1/7
