Amid energy squeeze, Paris’ Champs-Elysees trims shop lights

Paris' Champs-Elysees is switching off the lights on the famed avenue hours earlier each night until further notice to help save energy as the war in Ukraine squeezes the electricity market in Europe. The plan, which has taken effect on Oct. 15, means that lights on the avenue will go dark at 10 p.m. instead of 1 a.m. Shops on the avenue that remain open past 10 p.m. have an exemption, the committee governing the avenue said. The ruling affects dozens of luxury boutiques but does not affect public street lamps. The avenue's dazzling Christmas illuminations will also be affected — and will now be switched off at 11:45 p.m. instead of 2 a.m. The initiatives follow plans by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to save energy across several of the City of Light’s iconic monuments. In September, it was also announced that lights will be switched off at the Eiffel Tower at 11:45 p.m. — as soon as the last tourist leaves — instead of the usual 1 a.m. Other Paris landmarks, like City Hall, will turn off their lights at 10 p.m. Hidalgo said she feared that energy demands would increase over winter and she hoped to avoid shortages. This article was provided by The Associated Press.