Japan Expects Power Shortages Amid Growing, Unofficial Nuclear Shutdown 

By MARI IWATA

TOKYO—Japan's electricity shortages may be intensified over the coming months by a wide-scale unofficial shutdown of nuclear power plants across the country.
Even utilities not directly affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami have chosen not to restart reactors that happened to be undergoing regular maintenance at the time of the Fukushima Daiichi accident due to objections and concerns raised by local governments. Reactors that have since been shut for previously scheduled maintenance face similar obstacles.