Tokyo Gas to raise city gas prices for first time in 46 years
27/04/2026 10:53
TOKYO, April 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Tokyo Gas 9531.T said on Monday it would raise gas prices in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area in October, marking its first price hike in 46 years, to reflect soaring labour and equipment costs as well as declining gas sales. For residential customers, the basic monthly charge will increase by 150 yen ($0.9) per account, while the unit charge will rise by 0.02 yen per cubic metre. For a standard household, the total monthly bill, based on March usage, will rise to 5,884 yen, up 2.6%. For business customers, prices will increase by an average of 2.7%, a company spokesperson said. Tokyo Gas' domestic gas sales volume had fallen 21% by March 2025 from levels in the late 2010s due to rising temperatures and a declining customer base, the spokesperson said. Tokyo Gas had 8.8 million city gas customers as of March 2025, down from 10.26 million in March 2017, the year competition intensified with the liberalisation of Japan's city gas retail market. Higher costs include labour expenses for call centres and safety inspections of gas appliances. Fuel price fluctuations are reflected in monthly charges through the raw material cost adjustment system. Higher fuel prices caused by the Middle East war are expected to be fully passed on from autumn, but the latest price hike is not directly related to the conflict, the spokesperson said. Osaka Gas 9532.T also announced earlier this month that it would raise basic charges for new residential contracts from October. ($1 = 159.1700 yen) (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Kate Mayberry) ((Yuka.Obayashi@thomsonreuters.com; +813-4520-1265;))