Kansai Electric incurs $1.5B net loss in April-Dec.

Kansai Electric suffered a net loss of US$1.548 billion in the April-December period.

This is due to higher fuel costs for thermal powergeneration and idled nuclear reactors.

The loss compares with a net profit of US$1.4 billion a year earlier.

Although its revenue climbed 0.4 percent from the year before to US$26.8 billion, it incurred an operating loss of US$892 million, according to the utility.

Most of the utility's nuclear reactors have been idled for regular checkups, with prospects for their restart unclear amid heightened safety concerns about nuclear power following the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant run by Tokyo Electric Power Co.

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