Agência Brasil

Brasília - A preliminary study by the Ministry of Mines and Energy indicates that daylight savings time - which ended at midnight, Saturday (18), when clocks were turned back an hour - met the government's goal of reducing energy consumption by 5%.

The average drop in electricity demand during peak hours (between 6 and 10 PM) came to 2,225 megawatts, enough to supply a city with a population of 4.5 million. The government will consequently be spared US$ 1.1 billion in new investments, such as the construction of new natural gas-powered thermoelectric plants.

"It is confirmed that daylight savings time is beneficial for the system," declared the minister of Mines and Energy, Silas Rondeau.

"The result was considered very good, and the target was met in full. When the level of consumption is lowered, it avoids overloading equipment that could be disconnected, as well as reducing the risk of a blackout in the big cities," the minister pointed out.

Of the total reduction in demand, the savings amounted to 1,665 megawatts in the Southeast and Center-West regions (a savings of 4.6%) and 560 megawatts in the South (a savings of 5.6%), Rondeau added.

Translation: David Silberstein