blue chip
東京電力が政府の原子力損害賠償支援機構に対し、公的資金１兆円の出資と福島第一原子力発電所事故の賠償金の支払いのための資金支援（８４５９億円！）を申請しました。かつての優良企業にわたしたちの税金が使われます。blue chipは「優良株の、一流株の」という意味がありますが、これはポーカーの青いチップからきています。（UG）
Both the capital injection and the aid for redress payments are expected to be stipulated in a comprehensive restructuring plan to be crafted by Tepco and the fund, possibly in mid-April.
The plan needs to be approved by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano before it can be implemented, but Tepco decided to make the request first so it can book the financial assistance as an extraordinary profit for the current fiscal year, which ends Saturday.
Booking compensation expenses without the aid could have threatened the utility with falling into negative net worth.
The government hopes the restructuring plan will be crafted in a way that shows Tepco has "turned over a new leaf" and has taken a hard look at itself.
Public sentiment against Tepco remains harsh, with the company often criticized for its handling of compensation payments and for having taken a defensive attitude, apparently believing the crisis could not have been avoided because the tsunami that ravaged the Fukushima plant was larger than expected.
The former blue chip is now facing a heavy financial burden amid increasing fuel costs for thermal power generation.
