Johannesburg - Power utility Eskom says consumers have helped save 1 800 megawatts of electricity by replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) between 2004 and 2010.
CFLs use up to 80% less electricity than an incandescent light bulb.
It said about 43.5 million CFLs were between 2004 and 2010 as part of Eskom's efficient lighting programme.
Eskom claims that this is a world record as it is the highest number of CFLs rolled out in one country through a single campaign. Mexico is reportedly planning to roll out 30 million CFLs.
It again warned that the gap between supply and demand would remain tight until the first unit of the Medupi Power Station starts generating power in 2012.
The station is currently under construction in the Limpopo province.
Eskom's senior general manager of integrated demand management, Andrew Etzinger, said that the success of the programme is attributable to energy-conscious and environmentally concerned citizens.
"Even the smallest changes, when made collaboratively, can have a significant impact," Etzinger said.
Eskom said the growing demand for CFLs have led to reduced prices, from between R60 and R80 for a single bulb in 2004 to R15 currently.