Electricity prices in Japan rise from 1 November 2026: Rakuten Denki, SoftBank Denki and other suppliers too

日本語版：日本語で読む（Japanese version） →

Summary: From electricity used on 1 November 2026, the “network charge” (takusō ryōkin, the fee every supplier pays to use the power lines) goes up in every area of Japan except Hokuriku. This is not only about the big regional companies. Rakuten Denki and SoftBank Denki have also announced higher prices from 1 November. For Rakuten Denki’s Plan S, the rise is +¥1.15 to +¥1.87 per kWh, depending on the area. You do not need to do anything to keep your supply, but your bill will be a little higher. This guide shows how to check your own contract.

What is changing
Rakuten Denki Plan S: rise per kWh by area
Who is affected
What you can do now
What about government support this winter?
FAQ
Related reading
Sources

What is changing

Your electricity bill pays for two things: the power itself, and the use of the local grid. The grid companies (for example TEPCO Power Grid in the Tokyo area) are raising the grid fee from 1 November to pay for maintaining and renewing power lines. SoftBank Denki explains that, inside one area, every supplier pays the same grid fee. So even if you signed up with a smaller supplier, a price notice may apply to you.

Supplier / plan	From	What changes
Rakuten Denki (Plan S, Plan M, Power plan, All-electric plan)	Use from 1 Nov 2026	Higher price per kWh. Plan S: +¥1.15 (Tokyo) to +¥1.87 (Chubu). No change in Hokuriku. Basic charge stays ¥0.
SoftBank Denki (Ouchi Denki, Kurashi Denki, Shizen Denki and others)	Use from 1 Nov 2026	Grid fee rise passed on. Example in the Kansai area (Ouchi Denki Powered by Kansai Electric, 260 kWh a month): ¥8,551 → ¥8,958 (+¥407).
Kyushu Electric (Juryo Dento B)	Use from 1 Nov 2026	Model home, 30A and 250 kWh: ¥6,876 → ¥7,243 (+¥367).

Checked: 2026-10-25. Sources: Rakuten Energy notice (2 Oct 2026), SoftBank Denki FAQ and notice (30 Sep 2026, updated 13 Oct), Kyushu Electric press release (28 Sep 2026).

Rakuten Denki Plan S: rise per kWh by area

Area	Change per kWh (tax incl.)
Hokkaido	+¥1.67
Tohoku	+¥1.84
Tokyo	+¥1.15
Chubu	+¥1.87
Hokuriku	No change
Kansai	+¥1.30
Chugoku	+¥1.19
Shikoku	+¥1.54
Kyushu	+¥1.55

A rough example: a home in the Tokyo area on Plan S that uses 260 kWh a month pays about ¥1.15 × 260 = about ¥300 more a month. This counts only the unit price change. Fuel cost adjustments and the renewable energy surcharge are separate.

Who is affected

Households with an electricity contract in any area except Hokuriku. Okinawa is also affected.
Customers of the big regional companies and of many other suppliers. Each supplier decides how to pass on the fee, so read your own supplier’s notice.
If you live in a share house or a flat where electricity is included in the rent, your landlord pays the bill. Ask them if your rent or utility fee will change.

What you can do now

Four steps to check if your electricity price goes up on 1 November: find your supplier and plan, check your area, read the notice, expect it on a later bill — Four steps to check your contract. Sources: Rakuten Energy, SoftBank Denki FAQ. Made by Daily Picks

Find your supplier and plan name. They are printed on your monthly bill (kenshin-hyō) or shown in the supplier’s app or member page.
Check your area. The area is the grid area (Tokyo, Kansai, Kyushu and so on), not your city. In Hokuriku, Rakuten Denki says nothing changes.
Read the supplier’s notice. Look in the news section (お知らせ) for the words 託送料金 (network charge) or 料金改定 (price change). Rakuten Denki and SoftBank Denki both say no action is needed.
Expect it on a later bill. SoftBank Denki says the new price applies by the date you used the power, and it may appear on the bill two to three months later, depending on how you pay. If your meter is read in the middle of November, the month is split by days (Kyushu Electric).

Want to see which line of your bill went up? Our guide How to read your electricity bill in Japan explains the basic charge, the unit price, the fuel cost adjustment and the renewable energy surcharge, with the Japanese words you will see.

What about government support this winter?

There is no national electricity and gas discount for use in October, November or December 2026. Japanese media reported on 23 October that the government is considering restarting support for January to March 2027 use, but the amount and the start date have not been decided. We will update this page when there is an official announcement.

FAQ

Do I need to sign anything or contact my supplier?
No. Rakuten Denki and SoftBank Denki say no action is needed. Your supply continues as normal.

Can I switch to another supplier?
You can compare other suppliers, but check cancellation fees and set discounts (for example with gas or mobile) before you switch.

I am on a market-linked plan. Does this apply?
For Rakuten Denki’s All-electric plan, the market-linked power price does not change, but its service fee per kWh goes up. Check your plan’s notice.

When will I see the higher price?
Usually on the bill for November use, which arrives in December or later.