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Clocks in Brazil should be set forward an hour at midnight tonight, in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, Goiás, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul, and in the Federal District.
Daylight saving time will be in effect for 110 days, ending on February 20, 2005.
The onset of daylight saving this year was postponed for a month at the request of the Federal Electoral Court (TSE), to avoid problems with the electronic ballot boxes in the second round of municipal elections.
Last year, the daylight savings period started October 19 and lasted 119 days. As it happened last year, the states of Mato Grosso as well as the North and Northeast regions will not change their time.
In 2003, the Brazilian government announced that the goal of the switch was is to save 2,250 MW, or 0.5% - enough to supply the city of Porto Alegre throughout the period.
It was also pointed out that by reducing demand during the peak hours between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm, there is less danger of overload and the electricity can have a greater margin of safety.
Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, Dilma Rousseff, defends retaining daylight saving time despite all the criticism the measure brings every year.
In her view, the time change brings real benefits for the electric energy system and the country.
The Minister argues that the result is small from the economic angle, but, when viewed from the demand side, the savings are significant.
Agência Brasil
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