{
  "id": 10833311,
  "title": "Energy prices to hit record highs with end of government subsidy next month",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/energy-prices-to-hit-record-highs-with-end-of-government-subsidy-next",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-30T02:17:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/09/30/japan-energy-prices-record-highs/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Electricity costs in Japan are set to reach record levels when the government subsidy ends next month, according to the 10 major utilities. The subsidy, which previously reduced monthly bills by approximately ¥800 to ¥900, will no longer be in effect. This will result in a price increase ranging from ¥835 to ¥1,578 for standard household rates, to be billed in November. The rate hikes also account for a November 1 increase in transmission charges. Okinawa Electric Power Co. will see the largest increase at ¥1,578, raising their monthly rate to ¥10,752, the highest among the utilities. Tokyo Electric Power Company will increase its rate by ¥1,286 to ¥9,561 per month. In addition to electricity, four major city gas utilities announced their October rates, with standard rates increasing by between ¥435 and ¥744. These increases follow the end of a government subsidy of ¥14 per cubic meter, which reduced Tokyo Gas Co.'s rate by ¥744 to a monthly rate of ¥6,488.",
  "summary": "Utility companies announced that standard household rates for October usage will rise by between ¥835 and ¥1,578 from the previous month.",
  "key_points": [
    "Government subsidy ends next month, raising electricity costs to record highs",
    "Standard household rates increase ¥835 to ¥1,578 in November",
    "Okinawa Electric Power Co. sees largest increase at ¥1,578"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The end of government subsidies will sharply increase energy costs for households in Japan, with record-high electricity prices and significant hikes in city gas rates also taking effect.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}