The rolling blackouts are imposed in the cities and prefectures around Tokyo, but central Tokyo itself (the 23 wards) keep power so that the government and key industry can continue to function. Here is a map:
http://www.accessj.com/2011/03/quake-power-outage-area-map.h...
Basically, areas are assigned to one of five groups, and the electric company announces when each group will be without power. A given group may be without power for one or two ~3-hour periods between 6:20am and 10:00pm. The schedule is rotated for fairness, as power outages have significant impact on business. Note that south/west Japan is not part of this because they use 60hz AC while north/east Japan uses 50hz AC and the technology to convert on a large scale is not in place.
The power outage schedule has been a bit frustrating, but we cannot really complain when we think of the larger context and the extreme difficulties that people are going through in other parts of Japan. The electric company said that they would post the schedule for a given day by 18:00 of the day before, but I have yet to see that happen. The schedule often changes, and this afternoon was my second time to wait for a power outage that did not come. Japan uses loudspeakers to give out current information, but I live in between two loudspeakers and am unable to make much sense of either one, particularly with the echoes. When the power did not go out this afternoon, I checked the electric company website again and see that it was updated; my power is now scheduled to be out from 3:20pm to 7:00pm. A chart on a recent newspaper article looks like a sane schedule, and I hope they stick with it!
http://mainichi.jp/select/weathernews/20110311/news/20110316...
I have not been to downtown Tokyo lately myself, but stories from friends indicate that the atmosphere is very different there as well, despite the fact that they always have power. I would love to go check it out myself, but I refrain from doing so in fear that it may difficult to return home if something happens while I am out. (I was returning from Tokyo on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a long hike home then, after being evacuated from a train.)
Thank you very much for your wishes. Personally, I was very close to the epicenter of a M7.0 earthquake years ago, and with that experience behind me, I remain quite calm and unworried. I quit my job last year and am bootstrapping a lean startup, so I am working at home and do not even need to worry about commuting. :)
Basically, areas are assigned to one of five groups, and the electric company announces when each group will be without power. A given group may be without power for one or two ~3-hour periods between 6:20am and 10:00pm. The schedule is rotated for fairness, as power outages have significant impact on business. Note that south/west Japan is not part of this because they use 60hz AC while north/east Japan uses 50hz AC and the technology to convert on a large scale is not in place.
The power outage schedule has been a bit frustrating, but we cannot really complain when we think of the larger context and the extreme difficulties that people are going through in other parts of Japan. The electric company said that they would post the schedule for a given day by 18:00 of the day before, but I have yet to see that happen. The schedule often changes, and this afternoon was my second time to wait for a power outage that did not come. Japan uses loudspeakers to give out current information, but I live in between two loudspeakers and am unable to make much sense of either one, particularly with the echoes. When the power did not go out this afternoon, I checked the electric company website again and see that it was updated; my power is now scheduled to be out from 3:20pm to 7:00pm. A chart on a recent newspaper article looks like a sane schedule, and I hope they stick with it! http://mainichi.jp/select/weathernews/20110311/news/20110316...
I have not been to downtown Tokyo lately myself, but stories from friends indicate that the atmosphere is very different there as well, despite the fact that they always have power. I would love to go check it out myself, but I refrain from doing so in fear that it may difficult to return home if something happens while I am out. (I was returning from Tokyo on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a long hike home then, after being evacuated from a train.)
Thank you very much for your wishes. Personally, I was very close to the epicenter of a M7.0 earthquake years ago, and with that experience behind me, I remain quite calm and unworried. I quit my job last year and am bootstrapping a lean startup, so I am working at home and do not even need to worry about commuting. :)