Public news network NHK is reporting that nine power companies in Japan have charged consumers approximately $90 million per year to cover fees paid to local municipalities, in order to convince them to host nuclear power plants. Although the practice has been occurring for decades, this is the first time that the full amount was revealed—and it does not cover political payments and other monies donated in secret. In 2012, the government changed its policy and said that power companies could no longer consider such payments to municipalities a valid expense in calculating electricity fees. However, so far only Kansai Electric and TEPCO have changed their fee calculation formulas.
2013