The crisis management council of Semnan Province has declared Thursdays off for state organizations and increased working hours during weekdays (from 2:30 to 3:45 pm) in an attempt to reduce energy and water consumption in the summer time. “The scheme is aimed at easing concerns about the provision of water, electricity and natural gas during the warm season,” Mohammad Reza Khabbaz, Semnan’s governor general, ISNA reported. He stressed that the off day will not affect public services since it will be compensated by longer working hours on weekdays.
The extra weekend day is expected to save 35 billion rials ($900,000) in electricity costs. The governorate will enforce the law and monitor offices to make sure cooling systems are turned off on Wednesday afternoons.
It is up to province governorates to decide whether or not Thursdays must be off. Several provinces including Kohgiluyeh-Boyer Ahmad have so far joined the movement.
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