Johannesburg - South African saved 575 megawatts during Earth Hour, Eskom said on Sunday.
“South Africans showed their power to save electricity when they switched off their lights for Earth Hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 29 evening, saving 575MW,” the power utility said in a statement.
The electricity saved during the initiative was enough to power a city the size of Polokwane, Limpopo.
Eskom measured the reduction in electricity used during the hour against usual consumption for the same time on an average Saturday.
“Turning off the lights saves hundreds of tons of coal from being burned to produce electricity, so that less greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, thereby saving the planet.”
Non-essential lights at most of Eskom's offices were turned off, except at strategic facilities for security reasons.
“Individual actions have a collective impact. Together as a nation, we can leave a legacy of a healthy South Africa and a healthy planet,” Eskom's senior manager Andrew Etzinger was quoted as saying. - Sapa