Californians are preparing to “fall back” as daylight saving time comes to an end. This transition marks the return to standard time, allowing residents to enjoy an extra hour of sleep on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m.
As daylight saving time concludes, many will be trading outdoor dining in the evening twilight for meals under bright indoor lights. Daylight saving time began earlier this year on March 10, and this November, we gain an hour of daylight in the chilly winter mornings.
The concept of daylight saving time originated in the U.S. during World War I as a way to conserve fuel by extending daylight hours. Initially known as “war time,” it was introduced in 1918 through the Standard Time Act but was dropped at the federal level after the war. States could still opt to observe it locally.
In 1966, the Uniform Time Act standardized daylight saving time across the country. The Department of Transportation suggests that this practice helps save energy, reduce traffic injuries, and lower crime rates.
Historically, daylight saving time began on the last Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. However, Congress amended the Uniform Time Act in 2005, extending the period to start on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November, aiming for greater energy savings. A study from the Department of Energy indicated that the extended hours save about 0.5% of daily electricity in the U.S., totaling approximately 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours each year.
There is ongoing discussion in California regarding the potential elimination of daylight saving time in favor of year-round standard time. Assembly Bill 1776, introduced by Assemblymember Tri Ta in January, aims to make this change. Ta emphasized the dangers and frustrations caused by changing clocks twice a year, citing voter support for Proposition 7 in 2018, which sought to end the biannual time shifts.
The proposed bill would require California and its political subdivisions to maintain standard time throughout the year, aligning the state with others that do not observe daylight saving time, including Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.