Shikoku Electric Power, like the island it serves, is making
bridges to new areas. One of 10 regional electric utilities
licensed by the Japanese government to generate, transmit,
and distribute power, Shikoku (known as Yonden in Japan)
provides electricity to more than 4 million people in the
four prefectures of Shikoku. The company has a generating
capacity of more than 6,660 MW, primarily from nuclear and
fossil-fueled plants; however, Shikoku is converting some of
its oil-fueled plants to liquefied natural gas. Shikoku has
expanded beyond its power utility business into activities
such as Internet access, cable TV, remote monitoring and
control systems, and rest homes for the elderly.