(April 27): Tokyo Gas Co will raise its base charge for the first time in nearly half a century to offset higher costs and declining consumption.
A standard household’s monthly bill will climb by about 2.6% from October, the company said in a notice on Monday. It marks the first hike in the fixed portion of the bill — the basic charge — since 1980, according to a spokesperson.
The increase reflects higher costs to maintain services, including call centres and information systems, as well as efforts to ensure the safety of gas-related equipment, the spokesperson said.
The move comes just as Japanese households and businesses grapple with a pick-up in inflation, with the war in the Middle East boosting gasoline and electricity costs. The variable portion of power and gas bills — the fuel-cost adjustment — is updated monthly to reflect changes in overseas prices.
Uploaded by Chng Shear Lane
