Energy consumption dropped from 541.6 megawatt hours to 501.9 megawatt hours between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday, a 7.3 per cent drop.

Last year the region recorded a 4.3 per cent total saving, or 22.6 megawatt hours.

Event organisers confirmed this year's achievement, the equivalent of turning off 3.3 million compact fluorescent light globes or preventing 42.42 tonnes of carbon dioxide pollution, as among the best results in Australia.

"The results in most other states are similar to what they recorded last year, so 70 per cent [in the Hunter] is certainly significant," National Electricity Market Management Company spokesman Paul Bird said.

By comparison, Earth Hour power savings in Sydney CBD improved by 5 per cent on last year.

EnergyAustralia bulk supply data showed significant drops in energy consumption in almost all parts of the Hunter during Earth Hour.

The greatest savings occurred in the south, west and north lakes area, which reported a 13.7 drop in consumption.

Many of Newcastle's landmark buildings, including Christ Church Cathedral, City Hall and the Queens Wharf Brewery tower, either spent the night in darkness or had their lighting switched off for an hour at 8.30pm.

Several Darby Street restaurants also switched from electric to candle light for the evening.

"I think they should do it more often with even more candles, it's a much better atmosphere," Kellee Roddom, from Stockton, said.

Merewether resident Gary Hughes said this was the first year he had participated in an Earth Hour activity.

"The principle behind it is brilliant, but I think it would be even more effective if everyone in the world switched off at exactly the same moment regardless of what time it is," he said.

The 15 Newcastle substations that supply data for the ClimateCam energy monitoring project reported an overall drop of 5.9 per cent.

Only two of the substations, Carrington and Kooragang West, reported no change during Earth Hour due to industrial demand.

"The customer mix in Sydney [CBD] is more able to turn off for Earth Hour, whereas in the Hunter you have big industrial users that cannot respond as strongly," EnergyAustralia energy expert Paul Myors said.

Mr Myors encouraged Hunter residents to build on this year's achievement.

"Our message is to take that great result and turn that into energy savings throughout the year," he said.