85.8% Respond to 5,000 Yen Electricity Subsidy as "Insufficient"; 91.2% Anxious After Subsidy Ends - Survey of 500 Detached House Owners

【Background of the Survey】

The government restarted subsidies for electricity and gas costs from July to September 2026. However, the subsidy amount for a standard household is only about 5,000 yen for the three-month period. With electricity prices on an upward trend, does this subsidy amount align with household budgets?

"I'm worried my electricity bill will increase this summer, even with the subsidy."

In response to such sentiments, Userwave Inc., which operates the Tokyo ECO Sumai no Madoguchi service, conducted a "Survey on Summer Electricity and Gas Subsidies and Household Utility Cost Burden" targeting 500 adults nationwide who own detached houses.

The survey results revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the subsidy amount and significant anxiety about future utility costs.

【Survey Summary】

What are your thoughts on this summer's subsidy (approximately 5,000 yen total for three months for a standard household)?

→ 85.8% responded "Insufficient" ("Somewhat insufficient" 51.2% + "Completely insufficient" 34.6%)

How do you expect your electricity bill this summer to compare to last summer (July-September 2025)?

→ 86.4% expect it to increase ("Somewhat increase" 55.2% + "Significantly increase" 31.2%)

Have you ever refrained from using your air conditioner during the summer due to concerns about electricity costs?

→ 74.6% have experienced this ("Sometimes" 55.6% + "Often" 19.0%)

Are you concerned about your electricity bill after the government's electricity and gas subsidies end?

→ 91.2% responded "Feel anxious" ("Very anxious" 43.0% + "Somewhat anxious" 48.2%)

【Survey Details】

Were you aware that the government announced it would subsidize electricity and gas costs from July to September 2026?

What are your thoughts on this summer's subsidy (approximately 5,000 yen total for three months for a standard household)?

Do you think the government's electricity and gas subsidies should be continued annually?

How do you expect your electricity bill this summer to compare to last summer (July-September 2025)?

Approximately how much is your current monthly electricity bill? (Entire household)

Have you ever refrained from using your air conditioner during the summer due to concerns about electricity costs?

Are you concerned about your electricity bill after the government's electricity and gas subsidies end?

【Details of Survey Results】

Awareness of the subsidy program: "Vaguely heard" was the most common response at 41.0%

Regarding the announcement that "the government will restart subsidies for electricity and gas costs from July to September 2026," 41.0% responded "Vaguely heard," 37.8% "Knew about it," and 21.2% "Did not know."

While awareness of the program has reached a certain level, the details have not yet fully permeated.

85.8% Respond to 5,000 Yen Subsidy as "Insufficient"

When asked about this summer's electricity and gas subsidy (approximately 5,000 yen total for three months for a standard household), 51.2% responded "Somewhat insufficient" and 34.6% "Completely insufficient," totaling 85.8% who felt the subsidy amount was insufficient. On the other hand, only 14.2% felt it was "Sufficient."

The survey found that approximately 70% of households pay over 10,000 yen per month for electricity. In this context, many people likely feel that a subsidy of about 5,000 yen over three months does not provide sufficient relief.

57.4% Say Subsidies Should Be Continued; 23.6% Feel It's a "Temporary Fix"

Regarding the government's electricity and gas subsidies, 57.4% responded "I think it should be continued annually," which is a majority. Meanwhile, 23.6% felt it was "a temporary fix and meaningless," and 15.2% thought "it should end someday."

While there are many voices calling for the continuation of subsidies, it is clear that a considerable number of people believe that subsidies alone are not a sufficient measure.

The results suggest a desire for more fundamental solutions to alleviate household burdens.

86.4% Predict Increased Electricity Bills This Summer; 74.6% of Households Have Rationed Air Conditioner Use

In response to the question "How do you expect your electricity bill this summer to compare to last summer (July-September 2025)?", 31.2% responded "Significantly increase" and 55.2% "Somewhat increase," totaling 86.4% who anticipate an increase in electricity costs.

Furthermore, when asked "Have you ever refrained from using your air conditioner during the summer due to concerns about electricity costs?", 19.0% responded "Often" and 55.6% "Sometimes," totaling 74.6% who have experience limiting air conditioner use.

Even with the restart of the government's subsidy program, many households are concerned about increased utility costs this summer. Additionally, a significant number of households are limiting air conditioner use due to electricity costs, indicating that the financial burden is impacting daily life and health management.

91.2% "Feel Anxious" About Subsidy Termination

When asked about concerns after the government's electricity and gas subsidies end, 43.0% responded "Very anxious" and 48.2% "Somewhat anxious," totaling 91.2% who harbor anxieties. Only 1.6% responded "Do not feel anxious."

Subsidy programs are temporary and have limited budgets, eventually coming to an end. This figure indicates that households perceive the electricity cost issue not as a temporary problem, but as a structural challenge.

【Summary and Discussion】

This survey revealed that many households living in detached houses feel the government subsidies are insufficient, yet they have not been able to take fundamental measures.

"Sacrifice-based electricity saving," such as rationing air conditioner use, is prevalent in about 70% of households, and anxiety about electricity costs after the subsidy ends exceeds 90%.

There is growing interest in adopting solar power generation and storage batteries as methods to reduce electricity costs without relying on subsidies.

Tokyo offers a robust subsidy system, with potential subsidies of up to 2 million yen.

It is now becoming realistic to consider options for "generating" and "storing" electricity while mitigating initial costs.

Article Details: https://eco-sumai.com/column/electric-gas-subsidy-survey/

【Survey Overview】

Item

Details

Survey Name

Survey on Summer Electricity and Gas Subsidies and Household Utility Cost Burden

Target Audience

Adults nationwide who own detached houses

Valid Responses

500

Survey Method

Voluntary response via internet

Survey Period

June 4, 2026

Survey Organizer

Tokyo ECO Sumai no Madoguchi

Age Breakdown

20s 8.0% / 30s 35.2% / 40s 35.0% / 50s 16.6% / 60s 4.6% / 70s and over 0.6%

Household Size

1 person 4.8% / 2 people 21.0% / 3 people 33.8% / 4 people 28.0% / 5 people 8.6% / 6 or more 3.8%

【Notes on Reproduction and Citation】

Copyright for this report is held by Userwave Inc. If you wish to reproduce or cite any part of this survey report, please contact us in advance.

When quoting or reproducing this press release, please be sure to include our credit and a link to the following URL.

https://eco-sumai.com/

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Altering part or all of the data

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【About Tokyo ECO Sumai no Madoguchi】

"Tokyo ECO Sumai no Madoguchi" is a free one-stop estimate service that introduces excellent installation companies to households considering the introduction of solar power generation and storage batteries in Tokyo.

We also provide information on national and local government subsidies, and propose installation plans that maximize the use of subsidies.

Free One-Stop Estimate for Solar Power Generation & Storage Batteries: https://eco-sumai.com/

【Company Profile】

Item

Details

Name

Userwave Inc.

Location

Matsubara Bldg. 2F, 8-15-3 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Service Name

Tokyo ECO Sumai no Madoguchi

URL

https://eco-sumai.com/

Site Operator

Hideo Sato

Business Activities

Operation of a one-stop estimate service for solar power generation and storage batteries