"...there are no prospects that it can get out of the red."

[kristopher]

So much for utilities being safe investments...

TEPCO goal of rationalizing operations doubtful

Questions remain as to whether Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the tsunami-hit nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, will be able to achieve its goal of rationalizing its operations under its newly released action plan.

The utility will be required to shoulder the massive financial burden of placing its crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant under control and paying compensation to those affected by the crisis. Furthermore, it anticipates a sharp increase in its fuel costs that are estimated to reach about 1 trillion yen annually.

Moreover, it will be required to foot the costs of decommissioning and dismantling the crippled nuclear reactors and decontaminating areas tainted by radioactive substances leaking from the nuclear plant.

Since the company's planned streamlining is far from enough to make up for the massive amounts of additional costs resulting from the nuclear crisis, there are no prospects that it can get out of the red...

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20111209p2a00m0na033000c.html