Prime Minister Samuel Hinds says nearly 450,000 incandescent bulbs were replaced in the bulb distribution exercise.

Hinds said 440,370 bulbs were replaced with compact fluorescent lamps which would reduce peak demand by 26.56MW if all were switched on at the same time.

The prime minister told Parliament on Thursday that the distribution exercise was carried out in two phases. In the first phase they were given out in Regions 10, 7, 6 and sections of Regions 4 and 5 and in the second phase Regions 2 and 3 and the balance in Regions 4 and 5 benefited.

Hinds said from the 99,000 homes visited no one was at home in 3,859 of them and 612 households declined the energy saving bulbs. He said when the Cuban Embassy hands over the remaining bulbs to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Company they could be used in the hinterland areas.

Meanwhile, Hinds said two vehicles were bought in November for two of GPL’s divisional heads. Hinds, who has responsibility for the power company, said the vehicles were bought on November 22 at a total cost of $5,946,000. They have been assigned to the offices of the divisional directors of the Audit and Finance Department.