Tokyo Electric Power Holdings (TEPCO) announced that it will reconnect the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 6 to the electrical grid on the night of February 16, marking a significant milestone as this is the first time power will be supplied to the Tokyo metropolitan area since the plant ceased operations in March 2012. The reconnection represents the ongoing efforts to restore nuclear power in Japan, following disruptions caused by the Fukushima disaster in 2011. TEPCO plans to gradually increase the output of the unit and aims to officially start commercial operations by March 18.

On February 15, TEPCO commenced operations by generating steam to turn the turbine, which will help in establishing the plant's capacity back into the grid. By the evening of February 16, the plant is expected to be fully connected to the transmission lines, with plans to boost output to about 50% over the course of the next day. However, maintenance checks will pause operations briefly later in February to ensure all equipment is functioning correctly before ramping up again for full commercial operation.

This development is part of a larger context of Japan's energy policy, which has faced scrutiny and change since the Fukushima incident. The resumption of power supply from the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant not only highlights TEPCO's revival efforts but also raises ongoing discussions about nuclear safety, energy security, and the balance between renewables and nuclear power in Japan's future energy mix.