California is gearing up to “fall back,” as the end of daylight saving time approaches. This means it’s time to enjoy an extra hour of sleep as the clocks will be set back one hour. The transition from daylight saving time to standard time will take place on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m.
Earlier this year, daylight saving time began on March 10, allowing for extended evening light during the warmer months. The clocks will roll back in November, providing more daylight in the winter mornings.
Daylight saving time, initially called “war time,” was first implemented in the United States in 1918 as part of the Standard Time Act during World War I. This change was intended to save on fuel costs by maximizing daylight. Following the war, daylight saving was discontinued at the federal level, although individual states could choose to adopt it.
In 1966, the Uniform Time Act standardized the duration of daylight saving time, which is now managed by the Department of Transportation. This agency oversees time zones and the uniform observance of daylight saving time, a practice first established for the railroad industry.
The conclusion of daylight saving time has changed over the years. Originally, it began on the last Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. A significant update in 2005 extended daylight saving time to its current schedule, starting on the second Sunday of March and ending on the first Sunday of November. This extension was intended to save energy, and a subsequent Department of Energy study revealed that it resulted in approximately 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours of energy savings annually.
There is ongoing discussion in California about potentially eliminating daylight saving time altogether. Assembly Bill 1776, introduced by Assemblymember Tri Ta of Orange County, seeks to establish year-round standard time. Ta has argued that the biannual clock changes are inconvenient and pose risks to public health and safety.
In 2018, California voters passed Proposition 7, which called for an end to the biannual time changes, receiving nearly 60% support. The proposed bill would align California with other states and U.S. territories 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 Marianas.