Utilities
電気料金 請求書・検針票: Japan Electricity Bill / Usage Notice Explained
This is your electricity bill, or an 電気ご使用量のお知らせ (検針票, usage notice), from your power company. It shows the electricity you used in the month (kWh) and the charge, amount and due date. The charge is typically a base (or minimum) fee, a usage charge per kWh, a fuel-cost adjustment, and a renewable-energy levy. Since power-market liberalisation, the company and plan differ per person, and the amount varies a lot by season, household and usage. Always check the kWh used, the amount and the due date printed on your own document.
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Whoever holds the electricity contract for that home — usually the resident who told the power company to start service when moving in. If you switched to paperless billing, nothing is mailed; you check via an app or online account. Nationality does not matter. If you just moved in without contracting, electricity may work but the billing isn't set up, or may still be in the previous tenant's name.
What to do
- 1Check the kWh used, the amount, and the due date. Comparing with last month or the same month last year shows changes in usage.
- 2Pay by the due date using a method for your account: direct debit, credit card, convenience store, or a payment app.
- 3To avoid forgetting, set up direct debit or credit-card payment via the power company's online account or the enclosed form.
- 4When you move, tell the power company to end service (廃止) at the old address and start it (使用開始) at the new one, at least a few days ahead.
- 5If the bill is suddenly high, check heating/cooling use, household changes, and the fuel-cost adjustment or plan, and ask the company about reviewing your plan if needed.
About the deadline
The due date is printed on the bill. Missing it does not cut power immediately, but after reminders, continued non-payment leads to a cutoff warning (送電停止) and eventually the supply being stopped (the warning is a separate document). If paying is hard, don't ignore it — ask the power company early about an extension or instalments.
Common misunderstandings
- Is the 検針票 different from the bill?
- The 検針票 (usage notice) tells you the electricity used (kWh) and the charge for the month. Depending on the company, it may double as the bill, or a separate bill/debit follows later. Which document you get depends on your payment method.
- The bill jumped up.
- Summer and winter raise usage through heating/cooling. The fuel-cost adjustment, the renewable levy, and your plan also change the amount. Check the 検針票 to see whether the kWh actually rose or the unit price went up, and ask the company if nothing explains it.
- I just moved in — how do I set up the contract?
- You need to tell a power company to start service when you move in; without it, billing isn't established. Thanks to liberalisation, you can choose any company and plan. Apply early.
- Can I switch power companies?
- Yes — since liberalisation you can freely choose your company and plan. Switching is just applying to the new company; there is normally no construction or outage. But some plans have contract terms or cancellation fees, so check the conditions.
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This page is general information. For your own case, confirm with the office that issued the document, or with a qualified professional.