"Japanese electric utilities which have shut down nuclear plants have seen their debts soar by a collective 1 trillion yen ($12.6 billion) to just above ¥24 trillion, the Nikkei business daily reported Thursday. The jump in debt during the March 2011-March 2012 fiscal year -- including a 13% leap for Kansai Electric Power Co. -- comes on a surge in costs as the nine former nuclear-plant operators moved to liquefied natural gas and other fuels."
