The “switch to Save” summer campaign by the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) and Electricity Holding Company (EHC), was unveiled at a ceremony here in Tuesday. It mainly seeks to educate individuals and businesses on how not to waste electricity and water and provide them with simple, easy to use tips to make significant savings.

“This initiative is about encouraging all users of electricity and water to be smarter about the way that they use resources during the summer months and in ways that will have beneficial results for them in many ways”, PAEW and EHC Chairman Mohammed Abdullah AL Mahrooqi said.

“ We intend to show people how not to be wasteful- but maintain the same quality of life, allow them to actively contribute to preserving our beautiful Omani environment, help to educate young people to be careful with the resources they need for their future and to show the financial benefits to all consumers with reduces monthly utility bills” he added.

The Sultanate’s population has been increasingly steadily to reach an estimated three million at present from 2.3 million in 2003, when the last census was held, and two million in 1993. The next census is due to be conducted in April 2010.

Mahrouqi noted that as the population grew and the country’s economy expanded, the demands on water and electricity were significantly increasing. “The new Switch to Save campaign is aimed at helping to cut the residential and commercial use of precious resources by giving practical and easy to implement advice,” he added.

National Economy Minister Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, the guest of honor at Tuesday’s event, turned off a symbolic light switch from ‘On’ to ‘Save’ and turned off a giant tap to officially kick start the campaign in the presence of number of other ministers, industry leaders and businessmen. Macki, in remarks to reporters, said the drive assumed importance during the present summer season, a time when power cuts occurred due to pressure on power transformers.