About 72% feel the rise in electricity prices, while about 50% are unaware of Japan's energy self-sufficiency rate of approximately 13%

Electricity Price Hikes: How Much Do We Know About Their "Root Cause"?

In recent years, electricity prices have continued to rise, increasing the financial burden on many households.

On the other hand, how widely is the fact that Japan's energy self-sufficiency rate is as low as approximately 13%, and that we rely heavily on imports for energy, understood?

How do those who "feel" the increase in electricity prices perceive the issue of self-sufficiency rate that lies behind it?

What are their attitudes towards daily energy saving and solutions to future energy problems?

Therefore, in collaboration with Ciel Terre Japan Inc., we conducted a survey targeting 500 men and women nationwide on "Interest in Electricity and Energy Issues and Their Impact on Daily Life."

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Survey Overview: "Survey on Interest in Electricity and Energy Issues and Their Impact on Daily Life"

Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire

Survey Period: June 19, 2026 - June 26, 2026

Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide

Valid Responses: 500 samples

Questions:

Question 1: To what extent do you feel the rise in electricity prices over the past 1-2 years?

Question 2: How has the rise in electricity prices affected your daily life?

Question 3: Were you aware that Japan's energy self-sufficiency rate is approximately 13%?

Question 4: How do you feel about the current situation of low energy self-sufficiency?

Question 5: To what extent do you consciously practice "energy saving" and "electricity saving" at home?

Question 6: Please tell us what specific actions you are taking.

Question 7: What do you think is most important for solving energy problems (electricity prices, self-sufficiency, environmental issues) in the future?

Question 8: Please explain the reason for your answer.

※In principle, figures are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

71.6% Respond That They "Feel" the Rise in Electricity Prices

First, we asked how much people felt the rise in electricity prices over the past 1-2 years.

As a result, 36.8% answered "strongly feel" and 34.8% answered "somewhat feel," totaling 71.6% who felt the price increase. On the other hand, 15.2% answered "not much" and 13.2% answered "not at all."

Over 70% of people are directly experiencing the increase in electricity bills.

Since electricity costs are a fixed monthly expense, even a slight increase may be easily noticeable.

33.2% Respond That They "Have Started to Limit the Use of Heating and Cooling" Due to Price Hikes

Next, we asked how the rise in electricity prices is affecting people's lives.

The most common response was "have started to limit the use of heating and cooling such as air conditioners and heaters," at 33.2%.

This was followed by "no particular impact" at 27.2%, and "cutting back on expenses other than electricity, such as food and daily necessities" at 15.2%.

Limiting the use of heating and cooling was the most frequent response, accounting for one in three people.

Saving by enduring heat or cold can sometimes affect one's health. This suggests that the rise in electricity prices is impacting the comfort of daily life.

50.8% Respond That They "Had No Idea" About the Energy Self-Sufficiency Rate of Approximately 13%

Next, we asked if people were aware of Japan's energy self-sufficiency rate of approximately 13%.

As a result, 50.8% answered "had no idea," which is more than half.

Following this, 29.0% said "was aware that the self-sufficiency rate is low," 15.6% said "have heard the term," and 4.6% said "knew the specific figure."

Combining "had no idea" and "have heard the term" accounts for 66.4%. While the rise in electricity prices is being felt, the energy structure of Japan behind it does not seem to be fully understood.

80.6% Respond That the Current Situation of Low Self-Sufficiency is "A Problem"

Next, we asked how people felt about the current situation of low energy self-sufficiency.

As a result, 50.4% answered "very problematic" and 30.2% answered "somewhat problematic," totaling 80.6% who felt it was an issue. On the other hand, 7.6% answered "not much of a problem" and 11.8% answered "not a problem at all."

Despite many people being unaware, over 80% perceive it as a problem once presented with the facts. This suggests that if information is delivered, many people may come to see energy issues as their own concern.

74.6% Respond That They "Are Conscious" of Energy and Electricity Saving

Next, we asked how consciously people practice "energy saving" and "electricity saving" at home.

As a result, 52.6% answered "somewhat conscious" and 22.0% answered "strongly conscious and actively working on it," totaling 74.6% who were conscious of energy saving. On the other hand, 14.2% answered "not much conscious" and 11.2% answered "not at all conscious."

We also asked about specific actions being taken, and here are some examples:

Specific Actions Being Taken

- Unplugging appliances when not in use. (20s, Male)

- Not turning on lights during the day. (20s, Female)

- Incorporating solar power generation. (30s, Male)

- Trying not to use air conditioning and using fans or opening windows instead. (30s, Female)

- Actively switching to LED lighting. (40s, Male)

- Switching to tap-type power strips or energy-saving products. (40s, Female)

The efforts ranged widely, from daily conscious actions like turning off lights to structural changes like adopting solar power, LED lighting, and energy-efficient appliances. It appears that not only are people trying to save electricity by enduring discomfort, but there is also a growing movement to change the structure of daily life itself to be more energy-efficient.

25.2% Respond That "Individual Energy and Electricity Saving" is Most Important

Finally, we asked what people thought was most important for solving energy problems in the future.

The most common answer was "individual energy and electricity saving" at 25.2%.

This was followed by "utilization of nuclear power" at 24.0% and "expansion of renewable energy" at 23.0%.

Other responses included "technological innovation such as storage batteries and next-generation energy" at 12.6%, "stable procurement of resources from overseas" at 6.4%, and "other" at 8.8%.

While individual energy saving was the most emphasized, nuclear power utilization and the expansion of renewable energy were also chosen by a similar proportion of respondents.

We asked for the reasons behind each answer, and here are some examples:

Respondents who chose "Individual Energy and Electricity Saving"

- It's meaningless if individuals don't do it. (20s, Female)

- Every little bit helps. (20s, Male)

- It's important for each person to do their part consistently. (30s, Female)

Respondents who chose "Utilization of Nuclear Power"

- It seems like it can supply stable electricity. (30s, Female)

- Because we know that using nuclear power will lower electricity costs. (30s, Male)

- For a country with no resources, it's better to continue exploring ways to control nuclear power. (40s, Male)

Respondents who chose "Expansion of Renewable Energy"

- I think it's time to consider alternative energy sources for how we will spend our increasingly hot summers. (30s, Female)

- It contributes to stable energy supply by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. (30s, Male)

- We should increase the energy we can produce domestically, even if only a little. (40s, Female)

Respondents who chose "Technological Innovation Such as Storage Batteries and Next-Generation Energy"

- I think it's necessary to develop new energy sources domestically. (20s, Female)

- I believe the problem won't be solved unless fundamental energy efficiency is improved. (20s, Female)

- If we can achieve self-sufficiency, we won't have to depend on foreign countries. (20s, Female)

From those who chose "individual energy and electricity saving," we heard the opinion that accumulating small individual efforts is important. On the other hand, those who chose the utilization of nuclear power emphasized stable electricity supply, while those who chose the expansion of renewable energy emphasized reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Furthermore, those who expressed expectations for technological innovation such as storage batteries and next-generation energy pointed out the need to improve energy efficiency and increase domestically producible energy.

It is evident that many people believe that solving energy problems requires efforts from various directions, ranging from daily energy saving to power generation methods and technological development.

Summary

This survey revealed that while about 70% feel the rise in electricity prices, more than half were "unaware" of the background factor of an energy self-sufficiency rate of approximately 13%. Furthermore, it was found that about 80% develop a sense of concern once they learn about the current situation.

It may become increasingly difficult to endure hot summers and cold winters solely by bearing the rising electricity costs. Isn't it important to expand new options that support our lives, such as renewable energy including solar power?

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【About NEXER Group Inc.】

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Representative Director: Yuya Miyata

URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp

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