Middle East conflict disturbs Japanese electricity market, major electricity retailers temporarily delay taking on new industrial power loads.

Due to the turmoil in the Middle East affecting the fuel market, at least two major electricity retailers in Japan have temporarily stopped accepting new industrial customers, waiting for the market situation to become clearer. A spokesperson for Tokyo Gas Company said that the company, which supplies natural gas and electricity to the Tokyo metropolitan area, has suspended taking on new industrial electricity customers since March 6. The spokesperson stated that the ongoing conflicts have raised and disrupted procurement costs, and the company has not yet decided when to resume accepting new customers. According to information on their official website, ENEOS Power Corp., a subsidiary of refining company NEOS Holdings Corporation, has also temporarily stopped accepting new industrial electricity applications. The company's spokesperson declined to comment further.