From Todays Zaman earlier this year, don't know where we are with it yet though...
"Also called "summer time" in Turkey, how long it will continue will be determined by the Cabinet through a decree submitted by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources that is currently in the signing phase.
Summer time last ended on Oct. 28, 2007, when clocks were turned back one hour. It is expected that the daylight saving time will remain in effect permanently, in line with previous statements made by the energy minister.
One of the most important aims of daylight saving time is to decrease electricity use in state buildings, since almost all public servants will have finished their workday before the sun sets. The amount of electricity saved through daylight saving time -- which has always started on the last Sunday of March as in European Union countries and ended on the last Sunday of October - is reportedly equal to the annual production of a medium-scale hydroelectric power plant. According to Turkish Electricity Distribution Company (TEDAS) calculations, Turkey saves an annual average of 600 million kilowatts of electricity during DST. Also targeted is a reduction in daily energy demand, which peaks in the evening hours.
Director-General of Energy Affairs Budak Dilli said his directorate was working to make DST last throughout the year. "There is quite a big distance between Turkey's East and West. This has always been debated. Sometimes some people oppose moving clocks one hour forward and some object to turning them back. And both sides are right in their own view -- this is a problem brought about by the great distance between the country's extremes, which makes it difficult to implement a certain standard. We are currently working to make what is known as 'summer time' last throughout the year," he said. Dilli added that daylight saving time contributed to social life as well as energy saving, noting that it also increased labor efficiency. "
29 March 2008, Saturday
TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES iSTANBUL
