For the first time in seven years, the Japanese government has introduced an electricity saving regime, calling on the population and enterprises to reasonably reduce consumption for the summer, RIA Novosti reports.

This is due to calculations that in the event of a strong heat wave in almost all regions of the country, with the exception of southern Okinawa and the island of Hokkaido in the north, the energy reserve factor can be only 3.7%, while the critical level is 3%.

The demand for savings involves the use of air conditioners and other electrical appliances to avoid heat stroke, but the reduction of electricity consumption for secondary purposes - advertising signs, demonstration of the operation of lighting devices and televisions in stores and shop windows, and others.

Tokyo and eight other prefectures have been on warning for four days since Monday about the load on the power grid due to the abnormal heat for June. These days, temperatures up to 40 degrees were recorded in a number of areas from this zone. On Thursday, the record temperature for June was set in Tokyo - above 36 degrees.

Summer in Japan, due to the hot climate, is traditionally a season of active consumption of electricity, which is necessary for the operation of air conditioners in workplaces, at home, in transport, and in stores. According to government estimates, if the upcoming summer is hot, providing electricity to Tokyo, northern Honshu and other areas will face great difficulties.