An extra two months of "synthetic sunshine" every year

Love it or hate it, America's annual observance of daylight savings time would be extended an additional two months under a provision of the massive Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Currently observed from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October, daylight savings time would be observed from the first Sunday in March to the last Sunday in November, should the bill be passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush.

States may choose not to observe daylight savings time under conditions specified by the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a.)

Daylight Saving Time -- for the U.S. and its territories -- is NOT observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Eastern Time Zone portion of the State of Indiana, and by most of Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona). These states and territories remain on their local "standard" time throughout the year.

Enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 will not alter the rights of the states and territories to choose not to observe daylight savings time.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed by the House in a 249-183 vote after two days of debate and should be considered by the Senate early this summer. If the bill proceeds to become law, the extension of daylight savings time could go into effect as early as spring of 2006.

How Does Daylight Savings Time Save Energy?

Theory has it that daylight savings time promotes energy conservation. According to the California Energy Commission, energy use and the demand for electricity for lighting homes is directly connected to bedtime. When people go to bed, they turn of lights, TVs and other appliances, which account for about 25 percent of America's daily total use of electricity.

Studies done in the 1970s by the U.S. Department of Transportation show that America's electricity usage is reduced by about one percent during each day that daylight savings time is in effect.

Also in the Energy Bill

Other major provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 include the allowance of oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge and the creation of policies to shield makers of a gasoline additives from future water contamination lawsuits.

The bill also provides $12 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for energy companies, more than the Bush administration said it wanted. Nevertheless the White House strongly backs passage of the bill.

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