Make love, save energy – Sri Lankans turn off their lights

Sri Lankans have been urged to crawl under the sheets early, turn up the heat on air-conditioners and give up late night football to save energy…..or not.

“We are requesting that everyone finish their work and their entertainment – whatever that entertainment may be, before 10.00 pm,” John Seneviratne, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power and Energy told journalists this week.
Should anyone flout the energy saving campaign, Seneviratne threatens to slap a million rupee charge on television stations after dark, so that they may just shut down on their own.

A huge blow for Sri Lankans, tuning in to watch World Cup football, Desperate Housewives, late night soaps or even political chat shows.

If they must stay awake, locals have been asked to switch on an energy saving bulb and resist the urge to turn down the air conditioner below 26 degrees Celsius.

But for those who dim the lights, the government has promised reward schemes and discounts for the substantial savings on their light bills.

“We are making a request that people use minimum electricity for their requirements, not use unnecessary appliances and turn off superficial, unwanted illumination,” Seneviratne asked households and businesses.

What the debt ridden state utility, the Ceylon Electricity Board wants to see, is heavy night time demand on the national electricity grid easing, saving on expensive diesel generation.

Lanka Business