A state backed power company NamPower rolled out a city wide project covering the replacement of 1 million incandescent bulbs with LEDs, and to reduce household power consumption in Nambia capital Windhoek, according to a report from Creamer Media’s Engineering News.

NamPower Management Director Kahenge Haulofu told media each household would be covered by the pilot power-saving project, and will not be charged any installation fees for at least six LED bulbs.

The company is investing N$ 135 million (US $9.59 million) to slash energy consumption and ease demand pressures on the national power grid.

The LED bulb installation project is part of NamPower’s demand management project, aimed at reducing residential power consumption during the morning and evening peak hours.

The 1 million incandescent bulb replacement project to be rolled out in homes will be completely for free, and the lights have longer duration and use up less electricity, while emitting about the same light intensity.

The lighting project could save the country somewhere around 30 MW and 50MW during peak hours, Haulofu added.

Nambia’s national power demand exceeds its power supply, and in the short term Nampower will need to implement critical power supply programs to fill in rising demand gaps.