Thanks Mike. Are you saying, then, that the system of de facto regional monopoly in generation and distribution of electricity is the stumbling block?
That the EPCO's desire to maintain market share within their home region (and inability to grow outside of their home region) has tended towards centralisation and against diversification?

I would tend to agree with the above analysis, based on my short research stay at Chubu EPCO in the late 1990s, and later research on related matters. The only way to grow one's business in these circumstances is to persuade existing customers to buy more electricity, and to dissuade them from buying electricity from elsewhere, or to act to prevent smaller operations starting up within one's home region. Geothermal (and other renewable) development would almost certainly open up the potential for rival generators who could even, conceivably, set up independent local grids (despite the law allowing for rival producers to use the EPCOs' grid - as I understand it). Kee[ping the system centralised and preventing local diversification would be key to maintaining market share in a closed geographical area. The alternative is to allow one's business to shrink in the face of competition; and how long would a CEO/company President stay in post if that were to happen?

Cheers.

Peter