Local News

The large power consumers in Kyushu (industrial users) have continued to increase their purchases of electric power this year since monthly power consumption rose on a year-to-year basis for the first time in 15 months last December. This is a result of the upturn in auto production, but some observers hope it also might signal an economic recovery. A mitigating factor, however, is that power consumption from December 2008 to February 2009 had fallen sharply from year-before totals.