Which New Electric Company is Recommended for Switching from TEPCO? No. 1 "Power Company I Want to Contract With" Chosen by 300 Customers [Selectra Original Survey]

Selectra Japan K.K., which operates the specialized electricity and gas comparison site 'Selectra', conducted an original survey targeting 300 TEPCO customers who responded that they were "interested in switching their electricity contract."

The purpose of this survey was to understand the criteria that electricity customers, who are interested in switching power companies, use to make their choice. This time, we presented a list of five recommended power companies with different characteristics available in the TEPCO area and asked them to choose their top three preferred new power companies to contract with.

The summary of the survey results shows that TEPCO area customers place the highest importance on "the cheapness of electricity rates!" The top choice was "Octopus Energy," second was "CD Energy Direct," and third was "Tokyo Gas's Electricity." Many customers make their decision based not only on price but also on corporate reliability, service convenience, and their needs. The top three reasons for hesitation in switching were concerns about "whether the rates will really become cheaper," "whether the procedures are complicated," and "whether there will be extra fees."

The number one new power company that TEPCO customers wanted to switch to was "Octopus Energy." It's a convincing ranking as it had the lowest electricity rates among the five compared companies. Looking at the reasons from customers who chose it as number one, "the cheapness of electricity rates" was overwhelming, with 57% of customers being attracted to the low prices.

Following "Octopus Energy" in customer support was "CD Energy Direct," a joint venture between Kansai's largest gas company, "Osaka Gas," and the Chubu area's major electric power company, "Chubu Electric Power Miraiz." In addition to its low electricity rates (third among the five), its particularly advantageous electricity and gas set plan in the Kanto area received high praise from customers. Furthermore, its point system, which can be used for electricity bill payments or exchanged for partner points, was also a popular feature.

Ranked third was "Tokyo Gas's Electricity," the electricity service from Japan's largest gas company, "Tokyo Gas." As a major city gas company, it has the highest name recognition and track record among the five, boasting the number one sales volume for a new power company with 4.152 million contracts (as of the end of March 2025). While its electricity rates were the fourth cheapest among the five, many customers already have a city gas contract with "Tokyo Gas," which provides a sense of security, thus it garnered many votes from those seeking the track record and reliability of a major energy company.

Interestingly, "idemitsu denki," a new power company from the Idemitsu Kosan group, famous for its gas stations, ranked fourth despite having the second-lowest rates after Octopus Energy. This suggests that customers who want to bundle electricity and city gas for savings, or those who want to contract with a proven major energy company, prioritized these needs over the price advantage, leading to "CD Energy Direct" and "Tokyo Gas's Electricity" being chosen for second and third place. This shows that the ranking of "recommended power companies to contract with" is not simply the order of "cheap electricity rates."

When asked about the reasons for choosing their number one new power company, about half of the customers prioritized "the cheapness of electricity rates." This is likely due to a growing consciousness for saving money amidst recent price hikes and rising utility costs. The desire of customers to contract with the cheapest possible power company was reflected in the answers. At the same time, there is a high tendency to also consider the availability of electricity and gas set plans, point rewards, and company reliability.

Regarding whether they would actually want to contract with their number one choice, 21.3% said "I would like to contract," and 57.7% said "I would rather like to contract," showing that 79% of the total are willing to switch power companies. On the other hand, it was confirmed that a certain number of people hesitate when it comes to actually signing a contract.

When asked about their concerns regarding switching to a new power company, the most common was worry about the cost: "I'm anxious about whether the electricity bill will really become cheaper" (51.3%). This was followed by concerns about "whether the contract procedure is complicated" (48%) and "whether there will be extra fees" (45%).

Regarding the cost concerns, taking the five power companies in this survey as an example, all new power companies offer electricity rate plans with more advantageous pricing compared to TEPCO's regulated rate plan "Meter-Rate Lighting B." Therefore, those currently contracted with TEPCO can actually lower their electricity bills by choosing such a power company. However, the degree of savings differs depending on electricity usage even with the same rate plan. The key to effectively reducing electricity bills by switching is to first understand your household's monthly usage and then compare rates based on that usage. By choosing a plan appropriate for your household, your electricity bill will surely be reduced.

For those who find calculating electricity bills and comparing rates troublesome or difficult, Selectra creates a rate comparison ranking in its article on recommended power companies in the Kanto (TEPCO area) every month, using the latest accurate electricity rates (including basic charge, energy charge, monthly fluctuating fuel cost adjustment, and renewable energy surcharge). In Selectra's rate comparison ranking, you can see at a glance which power company's rate plan is cheaper for different household sizes, so those who are "anxious about whether the electricity bill will really become cheaper by switching" should use it as a reference for choosing a power company with cheap electricity rates.

Regarding the complexity of the contract procedure, you can apply online immediately by checking your current power company's "customer number" and "supply point identification number" on your bill or customer portal. In fact, in a past survey conducted by Selectra, 86% of 200 people with experience switching power companies answered that "the switching procedure was easy & smooth," showing that switching electricity contracts is simpler than imagined. Also, since almost all households now have smart meters* installed, installation work is unnecessary. Thus, "the procedure for switching electricity is easy & speedy."
*As of the end of March 2024, the smart meter installation rate nationwide is 99.9%, with about 81.5 million units installed.

Regarding fees, there is no need to worry. This is because it is very rare for a power company to charge a contract handling fee at the time of contract. Also, if you check for the presence of contract handling fees or cancellation penalties before signing, you will almost never incur extra charges. Selectra always specifies the presence or absence of fees and cancellation penalties in the explanation section of the recommended power companies. By checking this information in advance, you can proceed with the contract switch with peace of mind.

In the survey of 300 TEPCO customers, "Octopus Energy," which has the cheapest electricity rates, became the number one new power company they want to contract with, showing that "cheapness" is the most important factor in choosing a power company. On the other hand, there is also a tendency to concurrently prioritize individual needs such as the company's scale, track record, reliability, and convenience. Switching to a new power company is often hesitated due to anxiety about the procedure, but it is actually very easy and simple. Also, since all power transmission and distribution in the TEPCO area is handled by "TEPCO Power Grid," the quality and stability of electricity, risk of power outages, and recovery speed during disasters are the same no matter which power company you choose. The only things that differ between power companies are the "electricity rates" and the content of the "services," so you can choose a cheap new power company with peace of mind.