Power utility Eskom completed its roll out of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in August, with a record number of eight-million of the energy saving bulbs having been handed out.

The campaign went to Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape and exchanged the less efficient incandescent bulbs for CFLs free of charge.

Eskom explained that CFLs use up to 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and they last about ten times longer, thus reducing demand on the available energy supply and amounts paid by homeowners in the long term.

Eskom thanked those who participated in the roll out and who took the opportunity to switch to save electricity.

The CFL roll out was part of Eskom's larger demand side management (DSM) programme, which aimed at reducing electricity consumption in South Africa.

The utility had a budget of some R5,4-billion to conduct numerous initiatives under this programme, over three years.

Other initiatives under DSM were lighting and heating, ventilation and cooling, solar water heating, heat pumps, demand response, compressed air, industrial process options, and low-flow shower heads.