The plan would mean that Japan’s largest utility will either generate or buy 54% more electricity from coal-fired plants. In April, TEPCO president Naomi Hirose said the company will do “whatever it takes” to return to profitability and hopes to do so without raising rates for customers. The utility had been operating on an annual loss of 323.7 billion yen (US$3.3 billion) in 2012. This amount was pinpointed from a 13% increase in expenses coming from rising fuel prices, and the resulting need to purchase fuel in greater amounts. TEPCO is hoping the reversion to coal-powered electricity will move the utility on a path back to profitability.
