State-owned Namibian power utility NamPower has embarked on the installation of one-million power-saving light emitting diode (LED) lightbulbs to replace power-intensive incandescent lightbulbs as part of a project aimed at cutting down household power consumption in the capital Windhoek.
NamPower MD Kahenge Haulofu told local media that each household to be covered by the pilot power-saving project would not be charged for the gift and installation of at least six power bulbs.
He said the company would spend N$135 million on the campaign to cut down consumption and ease demand pressures on the national power grid. The LED lightbulb installation project is part of NamPower’s demand side management project, which is aimed at reducing residential power consumption during the morning and evening peak hours.
“The 1mLED Campaign will replace approximately one-million incandescent bulbs in residences with LED bulbs, for free. Compared to incandescent bulbs, LED lightbulbs last longer and consume far less electricity while giving out the same or more light intensity. This could save the country between 30 MW and 50 MW during peak hours,” Haulofu said.
He said although national power demand continued to out-strip supply by far, Nampower always had a short-term critical power supply programme on stand-by to fill up demand gaps when they arose.
Last week, the company commissioned a new 400 kV cross-country transmission line which will ensure continuous power supplies to new customers in the north of the country.