METI Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry of : Conducts Prior Registration for Retail Electricity Suppliers (on January 18, 2016)

On January 18, 2016, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) conducted prior registration for 11 business operators that desire to enter the electricity retail market pursuant to the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (2) of the Supplementary Provisions of the Act for Partial Revision of the Electricity Business Act (Act No. 72 of 2014).

1. Outline

Prior to the full liberalization of entry into the electricity retail market, which is to be implemented in April 2016, METI began to accept applications for prior registration by business operators that desire to enter the electricity retail market on August 3, 2015.

When registration for retail electricity suppliers is conducted, it is prescribed that the opinions of the Electricity Market Surveillance Commission must be heard in accordance with the provisions of Article 66-10, paragraph (1) of the Electricity Business Act (Act No. 170 of 1964), which was revised pursuant to the provisions of Article 1 of the Act for Partial Revision of the Electricity Business Act (Act No. 72 of 2014). This time, METI received responses on 11 applications from the Commission.

On January 18, 2016, in light of such responses, METI conducted prior registration for eight business operators that desire to enter the electricity retail market pursuant to the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (2) of the Supplementary Provisions of the Act for Partial Revision of the Electricity Business Act. METI has conducted prior registration for 130 business operators in total thus far, including 119 business operators that were registered by December 28, 2015.

In the future, METI will also conduct prior registration for the 108 business operators whose applications are under examination, out of the 238 business operators that applied for prior registration by the week ending in January 16, 2016, as soon as each examination is completed.

2. Appendix

3. Reference

Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) website

Release date

January 18, 2016

Division in charge

Electricity Market Office, Policy Planning Division, Electricity and Gas Industry Department, ANRE