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Japan Electric Association

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The Japan Electric Association (日本電気協会) (JEA) is a membership organisation for the electricity sector in Japan and, although it has roots dating back to 1892, was founded in October 1921.[1] It currently has around 4,800 corporate and individual members.[1]

Activities

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The JCA has a number of committees that set national technical guidelines (JEAGs), codes (JEACs) and standards covering areas ranging from electrical safety to the design of nuclear power stations[2] some of which are regarded as optional 'independent standards of the private sectors' while others have official status as the 'standards of academic societies and associations'.[3]

The JCA also acts as the main lobby group for the Japanese power companies[4] and is active in promoting nuclear power.[2]

Among its other work, the JCA promotes education, publishes a range of books and guides, and holds lectures, seminars and cultural events.[2] Since 1942 the ECA has published The Denki Shimbun (The Electric Daily News), founded in 1907 as the Electrical News.[5]

Nuclear power

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See also: Nuclear power in Japan

Through the work of its committees, the JCA prepares and publishes a number of codes and guides for the Japanese nuclear power industry, including the Rules of Quality Assurance for Safety of Nuclear Power Plants (JEAC 4111-2003) and the Guideline for Development and Design of Computerized Human-Machine Interface in the Central Control Room (JEAG 4617-2005), intended to meet the performance requirements specified under the Electricity Utilities Industry Law[3] As of 2007, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency were engaged in the process of evaluating certain standards produced by the JEA and others for technical adequacy.[3]

There have been allegations that the JEA wields too much power in setting standards. Professor Katsuhiko Ishibashi, one of the seismologists on a Japanese government subcommittee that produced the 2006 Regulatory Guide for Reviewing Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Reactor Facilities[6] claimed that the review process was 'unscientific'[7][8] and the outcome rigged[4][8] to suit the interests of the JEA, which had 11 of its committee members on the 19-member government subcommittee[4] and that among other problems the guide was 'seriously flawed' as a consequence because it underestimated the design basis earthquake ground motion.[9]

History

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Yasuzaemon Matsunaga (right), former JEA president, pictured with diplomat Katsuyi Debuchi (left)

Between 1923 and January 1, 1965, the JEA was one of the bodies authorised to inspect electricity meters, a function subsequently transferred to the Japan Electric Meters Inspection Corporation (JEMIC).[10]

The Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories (JET) were founded as the Japan Electrical Testing Laboratories of Japan Electric Association in February 1963.[11]

Past presidents

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b (in Japanese) Profile Archived 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine Japan Electric Association, accessed 2011-04-07
  2. ^ a b c (in Japanese) Work Archived 2011-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Japan Electric Association, accessed 2011-04-07
  3. ^ a b c Convention on Nuclear Safety; National Report of Japan for Fourth Review Meeting Government of Japan, published September 2007, accessed 2011-04-07
  4. ^ a b c Japan Nuclear Energy Drive Compromised by Conflicts of Interest Bloomberg, published 2007-12-12, accessed 2011-04-11
  5. ^ Important dates in the history of The Denki Shimbun Archived 2011-03-13 at the Wayback Machine The Denki Shimbun, accessed 2011-04-07
  6. ^ Regulatory Guide for Reviewing Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Reactor Facilities Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine Nuclear Safety Commission, published 2006-09-19, accessed 2011-04-06
  7. ^ "Quake shuts world's largest nuclear plant" Nature, vol 448, 392-393, doi:10.1038/448392a, (July 25, 2007) Retrieved March 18, 2011
  8. ^ a b Jason Clenfield (March 17, 2011). "Japan Nuclear Disaster Caps Decades of Faked Reports, Accidents". Bloomberg Businessweek.[dead link]
  9. ^ Katsuhiko Ishibashi, "Why worry? Japan's nuclear plants at grave risk from quake damage" The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus (August 11, 2007) Also published by the International Herald Tribune (August 11, 2007). Retrieved March 24, 2011
  10. ^ Japan Electric Meters Inspection Corporation Archived 2010-12-09 at the Wayback Machine Directory Database of Research and Development Activities, published 2001-10-25, accessed 2011-04-07
  11. ^ Introduction to JET Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories, published 2003, accessed 2011-04-07
  12. ^ Publications　History and Main Activities Japan Energy Association, published March 2006, accessed 2011-04-07
  13. ^ Tokyo Electric Power Company Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd ed, accessed 2011-04-07
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