6. Public Utilities(Electricity/Water/Gas)

Electricity

The voltage in Japanese houses is 100V. The frequency is 60Hz in western Japan and 50Hz in eastern Japan. Since Shimane is in western Japan, the frequency is 60Hz. Electronic appliances brought over from overseas may not run on the same voltage, and will need a voltage adapter. These are available at good electronics stores.

【Initiating and Canceling Services】

Initiating Service	Canceling Service
After moving, when starting using the electricity, turn the circuit breaker on. If there is no electricity supplied even if you flip the switches, contact your nearest CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC Business Office. (If you contact the company before moving, you will be able to use the electricity as soon as you move in.) You will find a "postcard of application for initiating service" in your mail box at a new house or apartment. Fill in the postcard and mail it. If you wish to pay the electricity bill from your bank or postal account automatically, fill your bank name, account number, and other necessary details on the form, and stamp it with your personal seal. (This should be covered with protective seal.)	One week before you move out, notify CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC Business Office to cancel your service, and ask a service person to visit your home to check the meter and square a bill on the day you move out. The final bill counted from the previous meter inspection to the day you move out can be paid in cash at your home on the day you move out. After moving, if you do not close your account used for payment, the final bill can be paid by direct debit.

Initiating Service

Canceling Service

After moving, when starting using the electricity, turn the circuit breaker on. If there is no electricity supplied even if you flip the switches, contact your nearest CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC Business Office. (If you contact the company before moving, you will be able to use the electricity as soon as you move in.)
You will find a "postcard of application for initiating service" in your mail box at a new house or apartment. Fill in the postcard and mail it. If you wish to pay the electricity bill from your bank or postal account automatically, fill your bank name, account number, and other necessary details on the form, and stamp it with your personal seal. (This should be covered with protective seal.)

One week before you move out, notify CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC Business Office to cancel your service, and ask a service person to visit your home to check the meter and square a bill on the day you move out.
The final bill counted from the previous meter inspection to the day you move out can be paid in cash at your home on the day you move out. After moving, if you do not close your account used for payment, the final bill can be paid by direct debit.

【Payment】
The payment method of the electricity bill is through either direct debit or funds transfer. In the case of direct debit, the payment will be drawn automatically each month from a bank account which you designate. In the case of funds transfer, CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC will send you a funds transfer form. Pay at a bank designated by CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC or a convenience store. Even if you apply for direct debit, you may have to pay by funds transfer for one or two months until the direct debit process has been established.
For further information, contact CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC Business Office.

【Blackout】
When the power goes out, check whether the electricity has gone out only in your home or in the neighborhood as well. If the electricity has gone out only in your home, unplug some electric appliances and flip the switches of the circuit breaker. Usually the electricity is resumed in this way, but if this is not the case, contact CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC Business Offices.

◆Inquiries◆

Chugoku Electric Power Co.,INC	Matsue Business Office	Relocation Info Desk	(0852)25-7717
	Matsue Business Office	General Info Desk	(0852)27-1131
	Izumo Business Office	Relocation Info Desk	(0853)21-6661
	Izumo Business Office	General Info Desk	(0853)21-3240
	Hamada Business Office	Relocation Info Desk	(0855)23-3313
	Hamada Business Office	General Info Desk	(0855)22-1320
	Masuda Business Office	Relocation Info Desk	(0856)22-1123
	Masuda Business Office	General Info Desk	(0856)22-0560
	Oki Business Office	Relocation Info Desk	(08512)2-6662
	Oki Business Office	General Info Desk	(08512)2-1346

Water

In Hamada city, since sewage systems are unavailable, the payment for only water service is required.

【Initiating and Canceling Services】

Initiating Service	Canceling Service
In order to initiate service you have to contact the Waterworks Department in advance and notify the matters listed below. Address (--chou --ban-chi ------apartment --kai --gou) Name and Telephone Number Date of Initiating Service Place of Work and Office Telephone Number Payment Method (counter or bank/postal account)	One week before moving out, you have to notify the Waterworks Department of the matters listed below. Customer Number Address (--chou --ban-chi ------apartment --kai --gou) Name Payment Method (counter or bank/postal account) Date of Moving out New Address and Telephone Number

◆Inquiries◆

Hamada Waterworks Department Tel (0855)22-2612 Ext.264 or 265

【Payment】
The water meter is inspected once every two months, and you have to pay the bill until the payment period in the following month of the inspection. If you have applied for direct debit, the payment will be drawn automatically from a bank account which you designate on the designated day in the following month from the inspection. If you have applied for funds transfer, the Waterworks Department in your area will send you the payment notification. Pay at the designated bank. You cannot pay at a convenience store. Even if you apply for direct debit, you may have to pay the bill by funds transfer at the bank designated by the Waterworks Bureau for one or two months until the direct debit process has been established.

【Water Leak】
If there is water leak and you live in a private apartment, notify your owner. If you live in a public apartment, contact the Shimane Prefecture Housing Corporation or your municipal office.

Gas

Households use either "city gas" or "propane gas". The type of city gas differs depending on where you live. Be sure to use appropriate appliances for your gas type, otherwise accidents involving fire or carbon monoxide poisoning by incomplete combustion may occur. Appliances designated for city gas cannot be used for propane gas. Appliances designated for propane gas cannot be used for city gas. Be sure which type of gas you can use and use the proper appliances. If you are not sure which types of gas you should use, ask your owner if you live in a private apartment, or ask an official of a residents' association, the Shimane Prefecture Housing Corporation, or your municipal office if you live in a public apartment.

【Initiating and Canceling Services】

Initiating Service	Canceling Service
One week before you move in, you need to call the Gas Bureau, the Gas Company, or the handling fuel office to apply to initiate service. A service person from the Gas Bureau will visit you and turn on the gas valve on the day you want to start using the gas. He will also show you how to use the gas and appliances.	One week before you move out, notify the Gas Bureau to cancel service, and ask a service person to visit your home to check the meter and square a bill on the day you move out. The final bill counted from the previous meter inspection to the day you move out can be paid by cash at your home on the day you move out. After moving, if you do not close your account used for payment, the final bill can be paid by direct debit.

Initiating Service

Canceling Service

One week before you move in, you need to call the Gas Bureau, the Gas Company, or the handling fuel office to apply to initiate service.
A service person from the Gas Bureau will visit you and turn on the gas valve on the day you want to start using the gas. He will also show you how to use the gas and appliances.

One week before you move out, notify the Gas Bureau to cancel service, and ask a service person to visit your home to check the meter and square a bill on the day you move out.
The final bill counted from the previous meter inspection to the day you move out can be paid by cash at your home on the day you move out. After moving, if you do not close your account used for payment, the final bill can be paid by direct debit.

◆Inquiries◆

City Gas	Hamada GasKabushiki Kaisha	(0855)22-1580
Propane Gas	Hamada GasKabushiki Kaisha	(0855)22-1580
	Hamada Marui Kabushiki Kaisha	(0855)26-1250
	Hazeyama Kabushiki Kaisha	(0855)22-0125

【Payment】
The gas meter is inspected once a month on the designated day in every area. If you apply for direct debit, when a service person from the Gas Company comes to turn on the gas valve, he will give you a "direct debit application form". Fill in the form, stamp it with your personal seal it, and take it to the bank which you have your account in. You can also pay the bill from your postal account. In this case, you can get an application form at the post office. Fill in the form, stamp it with your personal seal it, and submit it to the counter. Even if you apply for direct debit, you may have to pay the bill by funds transfer at the bank designated by the Gas Company for one or two months until direct debit process is finalized. In the case of funds transfer, pay the bill at the nearest bank or pay when the service person visits you.

【General Precautions】
Gas in Japan has a bad smell artificially added so that you can tell if there is a leak. If you can smell gas, if your gas range burns with a long orange flame, or if you can smell excessive gas when you use your gas appliance, do the following:

Turn the gas off at the mains.
Open windows and doors to ventilate well.
Don't light anything, or touch any electrical switches or a ventilating fan. If the fan is on, leave it on.
Call the Gas Company or the gas store right away.