I agree its probably not profitable to maintain high voltage transmission gear, substations etc, for small communities in the outback far from the power stations
"But in Japan, as in much of the world, coal is considered the cheapest and most reliable energy source despite its environmental footprint.
...
While some countries want coal-fired power to be phased out by the middle of the century, Japan is at the fore of the fight to ensure it stays a prominent part of the global energy mix. "
"Several utilities including Kansai Electric Power and Osaka Gas have officially announced plans to build new, big coal-powered stations in the past month"
