TOKYO -- Japan has asked households and companies in Tokyo and Tohoku, the country's northern region, to conserve electricity during a cold snap, warning of potential outages after powerful earthquakes last week forced several power plants to shut down.
In the first warning of its kind issued by the government, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday it wants utility customers in areas served by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings (TEPCO) to curb usage from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. The ministry later added areas served by Tohoku Electric Power Co.
