18 October 2004 - Japan's ten major power companies have increased electricity generated to a record 478.3 TWh in the fiscal first half. The 5.3 per cent rise year on year was measured up to September 30 by the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan.

The growth in demand from both the private sector and industry was thought to have been due to the record-breaking hot weather in July and August.

Power output in a scorched Tokyo increased 6.4 per cent to around 158 TWh, due to cooling aids such as air conditioning.

Electricity output was higher than in the same period a year earlier for all companies except Okinawa Electric Power Company.

There was a 41 per cent increase for nuclear power, which generated 138 TWh while both thermal and hydroelectric power saw a four per cent and an eight per cent drop to 222 TWh and 41 TWh respectively.

September saw a further increase of 0.4 per cent on the year to around 80 TWh, an increase for a sixth consecutive month on solid demand from industry.