Filed Sept 25–29, 2026 | Regulated retail electricity terms revised at 9 utilities
Between September 25 and 29, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) accepted filings from nine designated retail electricity companies to revise their specified retail supply terms. The nine are Hokkaido Electric Power, Tohoku Electric Power, TEPCO Energy Partner, Chubu Electric Power Miraiz, Kansai Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Shikoku Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power and Okinawa Electric Power. Specified retail supply terms are the rules covering the so-called regulated rate menus that have continued since before full retail liberalization; they are filed under Article 19, paragraph 4 of the pre-amendment Electricity Business Act, which remains effective through the supplementary provisions of Act No. 72 of 2014. The revisions follow changes to the wheeling service terms filed by nine general transmission and distribution utilities on August 24 and September 11, 2026. When the cost of using the grid that delivers power to homes is revised, that revision flows through to retail pricing, and this filing is the retail-side step in that sequence. METI also notes that Chubu Electric Power Miraiz and Kansai Electric Power set their rates after correcting costs that had been miscalculated in terms filed on February 6, 2024. Along with the filings, documents on company-set standards under the rate calculation rules and on how consumption tax amounts are displayed and billed were published.
Many people who have just arrived in Japan sign an electricity contract while searching for housing without time to compare plans, and simply stay on the regional major utility's standard menu. The specified retail supply terms filed this time are exactly the rules governing those long-standing menus. In other words, the contents of the terms you are contracted under can change even if you take no action yourself. It is worth checking once the plan name and unit prices shown on your monthly meter-reading slip or online account, so that you understand why a bill moves. Japanese meter-reading slips use stiff terminology, and words such as juryo dento (metered lighting) or kihon ryokin (base charge) can be hard to parse, so comparing them against the rate tables on each company's website is the surest approach. METI also states that in the Chubu Electric Miraiz and Kansai Electric areas, rates were set after correcting costs that had been miscalculated in an earlier filing. You can confirm which company serves your area from the company name printed on your slip or invoice.
Japan's MIC approved Japan Post's revised international mail terms on September 14, 2026. From January 1, 2027, International Reply Coupons are abolished and the size, weight and insured-mail rules change for mail sent abroad.
Japan's MHLW opened public comment on a draft Cabinet Order amending the Enforcement Order of the Social Welfare Act on Sept 25, 2026 (case 495260195, closes 00:00 Oct 25). Here is what it covers and how to submit an opinion.
Japan's MAFF set the government selling price of imported wheat for the October 2026 term at ¥70,020 per ton, a 12.0% increase. Here is what changed, how the twice-a-year system works, and what it means for your food budget.
Source:
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) website (Filings accepted from nine designated retail electricity companies to revise specified retail supply terms)This article was edited and written by freegent Inc. based on the source above.