Energy, Lithuania

Consumers in Lithuania currently use more electricity at night than before, because at night it is cheaper. People turn washing machines, dish washers and other appliances on at night or at weekends, when energy is cheaper if the double tariff system is installed in the household.

The statistics from RST show that people used 3.18% less energy in January and Feburary of 2010, in comparison to the same period a year ago.

According to Lietuvos Rytas, last time a drop in energy use was noticed in 2000. The current decrease in electricity use is predicted to be the sharpest in the history of Lithuania.

When the economy grew, the consumption of the electricity would increase by double digits every year. In 2008, for instance, the usage of the electricity grew by 12% in comparison to 2007.

"This year, Lithuanians started saving on energy for the first time in many years. It means that the increased prices scared people and made them consume more economically," Mantas Vaskela, the RST's expert of rational energy consumption, told the daily.

Before the closure of Ignalina nuclear power plant, the price difference between day and night tariffs was almost 70%, but it's twice smaller now.

The CEO of home appliances retailer Topo Centras Aurelijus Rusteika told Lietuvos Rytas that people are much more concerned now if their new gadget is energy efficient and pay most attention to that upon purchasing a refrigerator, TV set, or even light bulbs.