Lucrative power business sees entry of 100 new Japanese firms

Deregulation boosting number of electricity providers.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry revealed that 100 new companies throughout Japan have registered to sell electricity. Some 40 of these new firms are already operating.

Since 2000, Japan has been deregulating the sale of electricity to corporate users in stages and this has increased the number of companies entering the power business. It is now preparing to deregulate the sale of electricity to homeowners.

Analysts said the rising price of electricity following the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster is helping new firms compete against established regional power companies.