What is happening with Japan's power after the earthquake?

Answer 1

TEPCO, Tokyo's electric company, has ordered 'rolling blackouts' across Tokyo and surrounding areas for the next month to try to save electricity. This has resulted in some train lines shutting down operations, which has meant that Tokyo actually has a little more electricity than it had accounted for, so some of the blackouts have happened while others haven't. The notification of blackouts means that shops, offices, cafes etc close their doors in advance, so that if the blackouts do not in fact occur in that area, some services needlessly shut their doors on sometimes desperate civilians wanting food, water or simply information. On the plus side it has shown how little electricity a supermarket actually needs to run, as many in my area (Kanagawa) dimmed their lights and reduced their opening times, but were still able to operate and help their community.