Lights on

Tokyo Electric Power Company has announced that there will be no scheduled rolling blackouts until further notice, at least in the spring months when energy use (i.e. heating and cooling) is comparatively low. That is a relief to people living and working in the suburbs of Tokyo. (Most of central Tokyo is exempt from the blackouts due to the necessity to keep businesses going). Color-coded Groups 1 to 5 are plotted on this map. We are one of the red dots. :) http://teidenjapan.appspot.com/

We are now in one of the few periods of the year when neither the heater nor air conditioner is necessary. April and May are fairly mild, with temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 (low and high). But when we get to June, the rainy season comes around, and the rising heat is accompanied by high humidity. July is worse; August is the worst; September is like July. Energy output now is lower than normal, and the question is whether they will get things back on line by the time air conditioning is needed. Summer 2010 was the hottest on record, and there were tens of deaths, especially among the elderly. Even if the summer this year is not as hot, even if the temperatures are only in the high 80s or low 90s, the humidity is bound to be in the 80s and up. If we don't have air conditioning available, things could be very dire.