In addition, Japan is now confronted with new challenges, such as uncertainty regarding the supply and demand of electric power and the reconstruction effort needed following the earthquake. I am of course anxious about the uncertainty regarding reconstruction-related demand, but what concerns me more is the uncertainty surrounding electricity supply.
Electricity supply during this past summer, which was a cause of great concern, turned out not to impose considerable constraints on the economy, not only because this summer was cooler than the extremely hot summer last year, but also because of efforts by firms and households to save electricity.