Brazil approves returning to daylight saving time as drought bites. Reservoir levels near major hydroelectric plants in key southeastern and centre-west areas are expected to end September at below 50 percent, as the region’s rainfall drops to less than half of normal levels.

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1. Brazilian energy authorities have approved bringing back daylight saving time, a senior official said on Thursday, to save energy as the country faces a major drought that has hit power generation.

   Before it goes into effect, reinstating daylight savings time will need to be backed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

   A prolonged drought in Brazil has affected some of the country’s largest hydroelectric plants, including two fed by an Amazonian river, forcing a shift to more energy imports and driving up power bills.

   Despite the growth of wind and solar power in Latin America’s largest economy, more than half its electricity still comes from harnessing the power of rivers and lakes.

   Reservoir levels near major hydroelectric plants in key southeastern and centre-west areas are expected to end September at below 50 percent, as the region’s rainfall drops to less than half of normal levels.