Can foreigners switch electricity providers in Japan?
Yes. Since the 2016 liberalization (電力自由化), any resident on any visa can switch electricity supplier. Your nationality or visa status is irrelevant — you only need a rental or ownership contract and an account in your name.
What is 従量電灯 (juryo-dento)?
The standard regulated metered plan every regional utility offers, and the default plan you are on if you do nothing. It has a fixed base charge plus a per-kWh usage charge in three rising tiers.
What is 基本料金 (base charge)?
A fixed monthly charge you pay regardless of usage. In most regions it is set by your contract amperage; in Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Okinawa it is replaced by a flat minimum charge (最低料金).
What is 最低料金 (minimum charge)?
In Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Okinawa, instead of an amperage-based base charge, you pay a flat minimum that covers the first several kWh each month (15 kWh in Kansai and Chugoku, 11 in Shikoku, 10 in Okinawa). There is no amperage to choose.
What is アンペア (amperage) and why does it matter?
Amperage is the maximum current your home can draw at once, set on your contract (e.g. 30A). In amp-based regions a higher amperage means a higher base charge every month. Downgrading amperage is free and lowers the base charge, but a lower amp trips the breaker if you run too many appliances at once.
What is 燃料費調整額 (fuel cost adjustment)?
A per-kWh surcharge or discount that changes every month with global fuel prices, and can be positive or negative. Our calculator excludes it because faking a fixed value would be false precision — your real bill moves up or down with it.
What is 再エネ発電賦課金 (the renewable energy levy)?
A national per-kWh charge that funds renewable energy, identical for every provider in Japan. It is about ¥4.18/kWh for FY2026 (up from ¥3.98 in FY2025). Switching providers never changes it.
Does switching cause a power outage or need construction?
No. The poles, wires and grid are the same whoever bills you. There is no wiring work, no technician needed in most homes, and no interruption to your supply during the switch.
What is a 検針票 (kenshinhyo)?
The monthly meter-reading slip your provider leaves in your mailbox or shows in your online account. It lists your usage, plan, contract amperage, and the numbers a new provider asks for.
What is a 供給地点特定番号?
A 22-digit supply-point ID unique to your address and meter. A new provider uses it to set up service at your location; it is printed on your 検針票 or in your online account. If you cannot find it, the provider can look it up by address.
How long does switching take?
Usually your switch takes effect at your next meter-reading date, roughly two to four weeks after you apply. Your current provider keeps billing you as normal until then, with no gap.
How much can I save by switching?
It depends entirely on your usage — many households save on the order of a few percent up to around 10% on the regulated plan, and heavier users tend to save more. There is no fixed guaranteed figure, and the renewable levy never changes.
Do I have city gas or propane, and does it affect set discounts?
Electricity + gas set discounts (セット割) usually require city gas (都市ガス); they typically do not apply to propane/LPG (プロパンガス), which is a separate, often pricier market. Check a past gas bill or ask your landlord which one your building uses.
How do I set up electricity when moving into a new place?
Apply to start supply (電気の使用開始) with any provider a few days before move-in, giving your address and move-in date. In many apartments you just flip the breaker on; no technician visit is needed. Gas, unlike electricity, does require an in-person appointment.
Do I need to cancel with my old provider?
No. When you sign up with a new provider, they handle cancelling your old contract and coordinating the switch. You do not need to contact your current provider.
Is the calculator's estimate my exact bill?
No — it is an estimate using each region's standard 従量電灯 tariff (2025–2026, tax-included), assuming steady monthly usage, and it excludes the monthly fuel cost adjustment. Confirm exact rates with your provider.