EL SALVADOR CONSIDERS MOVING TO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 001233 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EINV EFIN ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR CONSIDERS MOVING TO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ¶1. Summary. The GOES is considering implementing a daylight savings time change, advancing clocks by one hour during the summer. El Salvador's neighbors and trading partners, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua have already implemented the measure in order to reduce energy consumption in the face of escalating global oil prices. Resistance to the time change includes safety factors and a possible lack of demonstrable energy savings. The President will make any decision to advance the time after the Ministry of Economy presents him with a study making the recommendation and its associated cost savings. End summary. ¶2. The GOES is considering implementing a daylight saving time change, advancing the clocks by one hour closer to GMT for a time period yet to be determined. In a 1987 trial with daylight savings, the measure lasted from May to September. The change is hoped to save energy as less artificial light would be needed during the evening, decreasing electrical generation costs. ¶3. Neighbors and trading partners Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala already switched to daylight savings time. A highlevel public/private sector commission led by the Ministry of Economy is studying the measure. Minister of Economy Yolanda de Gavidia said the benefits of synchronizing time with neighbors would include reduced operational problems for cross border trade, which particularly affects trucking companies. ¶4. Factors being weighed against the time change are that in the mornings children may be going to school in the dark, which would be a safety hazard, and the possibility of a lack of recognizable cost savings. The 1987 experience yielded minimal savings. A technical analysis conducted by the Ministry of Economy shows that the time change could save 1 percent on energy costs for the daylight savings period. The President stated that he would recommend the measure only after seeing the results of the commission. Comment: The measure will likely be applied in order to conform with regional time standards that would ease business transactions, regardless of possible energy savings. End Comment. Barclay