Press Releases（Archive）
FY2012 - FY2003

<Concerning easing of limitations under Power Usage Limitation Order>

Given our social mission, JR East has asked that railroad operations be excluded from the "Power Usage Limitation Order," which seeks to cut peak use of electric power across the board. Or, if the order is to be applied to railroad operations, we have asked for special measures such as consideration for disaster affected areas, an exception during commuting hours, and an easing of the extent of power use reductions on line sections used less frequently.

On May 25, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry revealed the content of the "Power Usage Limitation Order," and the related ministerial ordinance and bulletin were issued on June 1. These included some easing of limits for railroads, including exceptions for certain hours and the rate of reduction, which we understand as being in consideration of our request.

Rate of reduction of railroad peak power usage based on "Power Usage Limitation Order" (easing of limitations/weekdays)

Category		12:00 PM - 3:00 PM	9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
A	Lines in disaster affected areas	0%
B	Tohoku, Nagano, Joetsu Shinkansen	0%
C	Lines with three or fewer trains (each way counted separately) per hour	0%
D	Lines with four or five trains (each way counted separately) per hour	5%	0%
E	Lines with six or more trains (each way counted separately) per hour	15%	0%

"Power Usage Limitation Order" application scenario (with 15% reduction)

<Energy conservation initiatives>

1.	Reduce the number of some trains operating during midday hours
	JR East will establish an energy conservation schedule considering the rate of reduction of peak power usage based on the "Power Usage Limitation Order." The schedule will be based on the following basic stance. We will announce the schedule when it is decided.
	[Basic stance]
	(1)	Lines with four or more trains (each way counted separately) per hour [Categories D, E]
		Tokaido Main Line, Sobu Line (Rapid), Chuo-Sobu Line local trains, Chuo Line, Nambu Line, etc.
		•	We will reduce the number of operating trains to achieve the rate of reduction of peak power usage during midday hours (12:00 PM - 3:00 PM weekdays).
		*	In addition to train operation, stations, railroad crossings, signals and more consume energy, and moreover train operation is very complex. Therefore the power use reduction rates and hours shown do not exactly conform to the reduction in number of trains operated.
	(2)	Lines in disaster affected areas, Shinkansen lines, and lines with three or fewer trains (each way counted separately) per hour [Categories A, B, C]
		Lines in disaster affected areas: Senseki Line, Ban’etsu West Line, Joban Line (north of Toride), etc. Shinkansen lines: Tohoku, Nagano, Joetsu Shinkansen Lines with three or fewer trains (each way counted separately) per hour: Sagami Line, Ryomo Line, Hachiko Line, etc.
		•	Basically, the number of trains will not be reduced.
	(3)	Lines running on our own power system
		Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Saikyo Line, etc.
		•	Some line sections in the Tokyo area run on power from thermal and hydroelectric power power plants owned by JR East.
		•	These line sections are not subject to the Power Usage Limitation Order, but we recognize that the tight power supply is a national crisis, and will therefore reduce the number of trains to a certain extent and use the remaining power to cooperate in supplying Tokyo Electric Power.
		*	Also, on the lines listed in (1) - (3) above, we will establish schedules for the weekday hours of 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM so that basically they will not exceed last year's peak power usage.

2.	Work to conserve energy in stations and train cars
	Since the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, we have been taking measures as described below to conserve energy in stations and train cars. We thank our customers for their understanding, and report that these initiatives will continue into the summer.
	[Content of initiatives]
		•	Removing some fluorescent lamps from concourses and platforms, and turning off or lowering lights during midday
		•	Raising air conditioning temperature in JR Ticket Offices (Midori-no-madoguchi) and Travel Service Centers (View Plaza)
		•	Turning off some guide signs, etc.
		•	Stopping use of some ticket vending machines
		•	Turning off inside lighting in drink vending machines, and changing refrigeration hour settings
		•	Turning off or lowering lights and raising air conditioning temperature in station shops
		•	Removing some fluorescent lamps from train cars, and turning off lights during midday*
		•	Raising air conditioning temperature in train cars (all cars will be set to same temperature as cars designated for mild air conditioning)*
			*	Does not include Shinkansen, limited express trains, etc.
		*	Escalators will basically operate in the morning and evening hours, and additionally will operate during midday depending on circumstances (e.g., long stairways between floors, passenger congestion, etc.) Moreover, elevators, voice directing chimes and multipurpose restrooms will operate at all times.

3.	Lower energy consumption in offices
	We will endeavor to conserve energy as much as possible in our head office, branch offices, operating sites and other office locations.
	[Content of initiatives]
		•	Starting Cool Biz season earlier (from May 1)
		•	Removing some fluorescent lamps
		•	Installing LED lighting
		•	Experimentally installing task and ambient lighting*
			*	A lighting system that lowers the brightness from ceiling lights and supplements it with LED stands at hand, etc.
		•	Raising air conditioning temperature
		•	Stopping some elevators
		•	Introducing work styles that yield energy savings
			Allowing employees to start and end shifts earlier, encouraging long vacations, etc. Have employees work weekends and take Thursdays and Fridays as days off (some branch offices)

4.	Take energy conservation initiatives through the entire JR East Group
	We will also promote LED lighting in Group companies including station buildings and hotels and take energy conservation initiatives suited to each company's business situation.
	[Station buildings]
	Turning off or lowering lights in common corridors and backyards, raising air conditioning temperature, etc.
	[Hotels]
	Turning off or lowering lights in front desk areas and corridors, turning off some guest room refrigerators, etc.
	[Office buildings]
	Turning off or lowering lights in common areas, raising air conditioning temperature, stopping some elevators, etc.
	[District heating and cooling]
	Run brine turbo refrigerators* with nighttime power to reduce daytime energy consumption
	*	A system that uses plentiful nighttime power to make ice in a thermal storage tank and uses the ice to provide cooling in the daytime when power demand is higher.

5.	Take initiatives to encourage customer understanding and cooperation
	(1)	Displaying Tokyo Electric Power’s "power consumption status" in stations and train cars (already begun in late April) We are displaying Tokyo Electric Power’s "power consumption status" with "J･AD Vision"* in station buildings and on "Train Channel" in train cars.
		*	J･AD Vision is running at lower brightness to conserve energy.
	(2)	Conducting energy conservation campaign
		(1)	Period of campaign
			Late June - end of September 2011
		(2)	How the campaign will be conducted
			•	Put up posters in JR East stations and train cars
			•	Post status of JR East energy conservation initiatives on our web site
			•	Make announcements in stations and train cars to encourage cooperation with energy conservation efforts
	*	JR East is applying for approval of a “Common Use Limitation Scheme,” under which multiple contracts are managed in common to limit peak power usage. With energy conserving train schedules, energy conservation in stations and other efforts, peak power usage should be reduced overall.

[Reference] JR East power use status (FY2009 results)