Press Releases 2015

 Over past 90 years, Tokyo Electric Power Company has committed to the power generation business in order to supply electricity to the Kanto region, for which we received tremendous cooperation from the people in Niigata prefecture. Starting from the hydropower stations utilizing the Shinano river system to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station, the people of Niigata gave us the support to supply power to the Kanto region. We would like to take this opportunity to once again express our gratitude for their heartfelt support and understanding.

 Four years have passed since the accident at Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. We deeply apologize for the concerns caused by the accident to the Niigata people.

 Niigata prefecture and the local government and relevant municipalities are making huge efforts to give shelter and livelihoods to the Fukushima evacuees. As we thank the Niigata people for their hospitality, we again vow to fulfill our responsibility as the company responsible for the evacuees' losses in various ways, including compensation.

 In Niigata prefecture to date, we have built a close relationship with the residents of the area where each electric power generating site is located. We would like to continue building and maintaining such relationships with the neighboring towns of each power generating site, and eventually with the entire prefecture.

 After the accident at Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, under the banner of "Responsibility and Competition," we have been restructuring the company's nuclear power function as well as the management overall to genuinely reflect the lessons learned from the accident. We believe that restoring a relationship of trust with our many stakeholders, starting with local residents, is the basis of a "New Born TEPCO".

Niigata prefecture, where we have built our key facilities, and the people of Niigata who have supported the stable power supply to the Kanto area, are irreplaceable to us. We asked ourselves how we can further demonstrate our faith and commitment to a shared future, and the answer was to establish the "Niigata Headquarters" on April 1, 2015.

The "Niigata Headquarters" will preside over all branch offices located in Niigata prefecture, will have a core function which deals exclusively with communicating and understanding the needs of Niigata prefecture, and will report directly to the president of TEPCO. Through the "Niigata Headquarters", we will more than ever engage with the local residents so that we can return our gratitude for the continued support and cooperation on behalf of the whole company .

The location of the "Niigata Headquarters" is in Niigata-city, in which the "Niigata Division" will be created, consisting of three departments which further reinforce the company structure and personnel of the current Niigata Branch Office (Planning and Communication Dept., Engineering and Disaster Prevention Dept., and Regional Communication Dept.).

A total of 1,400 personnel combining the "Niigata Division" and two other Niigata-based offices of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station and Shinanogawa Power System Office (in charge of hydropower station) will be there to share your hearts and minds.

Koichi Kimura has been appointed President of Niigata Headquarters. By residing in Niigata, Kimura will engage in quicker and unified decision-making with the understanding of the interests of the prefecture.

 At the "Niigata Headquarters", the following approaches will be taken as the first steps toward a management structure which stays close to the local communities.  
- Holding town hall meetings throughout Niigata prefecture including Kashiwazaki-kariwa area to explain about the accident at Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and to provide updates on Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station.
- Expanding and strengthening the opportunity for the communities to participate in site tours conducted at TEPCO's facilities including Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station.
- Reviewing and implementing approaches to enhance disaster prevention, working closely with the relevant municipalities.

Through these approaches, we will carry out locally-focused management and walk alongside the people of the prefecture as a member of the local community, while always listening to any comments and requests from the people of Niigata.