The industry ministry on Friday issued a business improvement order to Chubu Electric Power over a data manipulation scandal involving the company’s improper selection of earthquake data for safety screenings for the restart of reactors at its nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture.

It was the fourth time that a major electric utility has received such an order under the electricity business law.

The ministry ordered the company to submit an improvement plan by the end of this month, calling on Chubu Electric to clarify the responsibilities of its executives and employees.

Yoshifumi Murase, commissioner of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, summoned Chubu Electric President Minoru Yasui to the ministry and strongly urged the company to carry out fundamental reforms and do everything possible to restore public trust.

“We deeply regret (the scandal),” Yasui told reporters.

Industry minister Ryosei Akazawa told a news conference that the ministry will “continue to respond as strictly as…