Japan imposes energy limits amid power crunch

Japan's government began imposing energy restrictions on companies, shopping malls and other major electricity users on Friday to cope with power shortages following the country's nuclear crisis, as AP reported. Big factories, office buildings, universities and department stores in the Tokyo area must use 15 percent less electricity than a year ago. Electricity is in short supply due to the loss of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which was crippled by a massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The restriction is in effect from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays from July 1 to Sept. 22, and violators face fines of up to 1 million yen ($124,000). The limit does not apply to households, but the government has urged them to conserve energy.