{"id":584687,"date":"2023-04-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/04\/04\/egyptian-lawmakers-approve-bringing-back-daylight-saving-time\/"},"modified":"2023-04-04T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T00:00:00","slug":"egyptian-lawmakers-approve-bringing-back-daylight-saving-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/04\/04\/egyptian-lawmakers-approve-bringing-back-daylight-saving-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Egyptian lawmakers approve bringing back daylight saving time"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span>And that\u2019s that: We\u2019re now going to have to change our clocks twice a year<\/span>after <\/span>MPs yesterday greenlit a government bill that <\/span>brings back daylight saving time<\/a><\/span>, which it says will help the country save money by reducing power consumption. The law will see Cairo Local Time (CLT) pushed forward by one hour from the last Friday of April through the last Thursday of October \u2014 meaning that we\u2019re likely to have our first time jump at the end of this month.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rationale: The government says it will save us at least USD 25 mn. <\/span>So said an <\/span>explanatory note out yesterday to justify the change that broke down the potential savings that come with lowering natural gas consumption. \u201cIt will save USD 25 mn worth natural gas needed to operate power generation stations,\u201d it said, also claiming the time shift will reduce power consumption of air conditioners in the summer months by starting the workday when it is cooler outside.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember:<\/span> The government last year began <\/span>rationing the use of electricity<\/a><\/span> \u2014 including <\/span>restrictions on lighting in public spaces at night \u2014 in a bid to redirect more natural gas towards exports and increase hard currency inflows.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bill wasn\u2019t waved through unopposed<\/span>, with some MPs voicing skepticism that the <\/span>change would produce the savings the government claimed and others airing concerns about the potential health implications. \u201cIn 2016, the government insisted that daylight saving time be scrapped on the grounds it was of no use, but now it comes to us again to say that it will save power consumption,\u201d said Rep, Ayman Abul Ela, a member of the liberal Reform and Development Party, before suggesting that changing clocks raises the risk of heart disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

REACTION- Year-round summer time? <\/span>\u201cWe should look into permanently adopting daylight saving,\u201d<\/span>Rep. Mohamed Abou El Enein said, pointing at Morocco, which is on daylight saving time permanently except for Ramadan, when it sets clocks back an hour. He said that such a move would help us cut back on our energy use while not messing with our biological clocks. Ala Mas\u2019ouleety (<\/span>watch, runtime: 4:05<\/a><\/span>) had coverage. House Local Administration Committee member El Sayed Shams El Din joined El Hekaya\u2019s Amr Adib (<\/span>watch, runtime: 7:15<\/a><\/span>) to defend the House\u2019s vote.<\/span><\/p>\n

The jury is still out internationally on whether daylight saving time \u201cworks\u201d <\/span>\u2014 for the human body and <\/span>for economies<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also approved by MPs yesterday:<\/span><\/p>\n