EGC and Singapore's EMA Sign Memorandum of Cooperation
On July 13th, 2026, the Electricity and Gas Market Surveillance Commission (EGC) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA). Under this MoC, the two regulatory authorities will share knowledge and experience.
The EGC is Japan's energy regulatory authority, established in September 2015 as an organization directly under the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry prior to the full liberalization of the retail electricity market in 2016. It aims to provide fair and diverse business opportunities for all market participants and to ensure that affordable, stable, and diverse energy supplies are delivered to all consumers.
In recent years, the expansion of renewable energy and the growing electricity demand from data centers and other emerging sources have made it increasingly important to maintain and strengthen electricity networks through necessary investments to ensure a reliable power supply. At the same time, these investments, together with recent increases in fuel prices, have contributed to rising electricity and gas costs, significantly affecting consumers.
Under these circumstances, the role of energy regulators in guiding energy prices toward appropriate levels while minimizing the burden on consumers has become increasingly important. As Japan marks the tenth anniversary of full retail electricity market liberalization, the EGC, as the country's energy regulator, must continue to strengthen international cooperation, fulfill its responsibilities appropriately, and further enhance its regulatory capabilities.
Japan and Singapore share a number of common challenges in their energy sectors. Both countries rely heavily on thermal power generation and import significant quantities of fuel, making their energy structures highly susceptible to fluctuations in fuel prices. Both countries have also introduced full retail competition in their electricity markets and face similar challenges in promoting well-functioning energy markets, protecting consumers, and ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply.
To ensure a stable supply of energy, which is essential to daily life and economic activity, countries facing similar regulatory and market challenges have much to learn from each others’ experiences and expertise. Through this MoC, the regulatory authorities of Japan and Singapore will share knowledge and experience to promote the further development of energy markets, strengthen consumer protection, and support the realization of a stable and reliable energy supply.