American Daylight Time

The Sunshine Protection Act - 1974 Version

Didn't we try this before? Yes ... and no.

H.R.11324 - Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973

Requires that daylight saving time shall be observed on a year-round basis for a two-year trial period. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report to the Congress on the operation and effects of this Act.

Requires the Federal Communications Commission to make adjustments, consistent with international obligations and the public interest, to permit daytime standard AM broadcast stations to operate before local sunrise.

Provides that this Act shall take effect at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the fourth Sunday which occurs after the date of enactment of this Act and shall terminate at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the last Sunday of April 1975.

- 11/07/1973 (House) Introduced in House
- 11/07/1973 (House) Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
- 11/15/1973 (House) Reported to House from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce with amendment, H. Rept. 93-643.
- 11/27/1973 (House) Measure passed House, amended, roll call #597 (311-88).
- 12/04/1973 (Senate) Measure passed Senate, amended in lieu of S. 2702, roll call #555 (68-10).
- 12/04/1973 (Senate) Conference scheduled in Senate.
- 12/06/1973 (House) Conference scheduled in House.
- 12/10/1973 (House) Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-709.
- 12/14/1973 (House) House agreed to conference report.
- 12/14/1973 (Senate) Senate agreed to conference report.
- 12/15/1973 (House) Measure presented to President.
- 12/15/1973 Signed by President.
- 12/15/1973 Public law 93-182.

- 01/06/1974 Effective Date (fourth Sunday after enactment)
- 04/27/1975 Expiration Date (last Sunday of April 1975)

H.R.16102 - A bill to amend the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973 to exempt from its provisions the period from the last Sunday in October 1974, through the last Sunday in February 1975.

Provides that during the period from the last Sunday in October, 1974, through the last Sunday in February, 1975 the provisions of the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act shall not be applicable. (Amends 15 U.S.C. 260)

- 07/24/1974 (House) Introduced in House
- 07/24/1974 (House) Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
- 08/14/1974 (House) Reported to House from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce with amendment, H. Rept. 93-1287.
- 08/19/1974 (House) Measure passed House, amended, roll call #500 (383-16).
- 08/21/1974 (Senate) Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce.
- 09/19/1974 (Senate) Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce, S. Rept. 93-1162.
- 09/30/1974 (Senate) Measure passed Senate.
- 10/03/1974 (House) Measure presented to President.
- 10/05/1974 Signed by President.
- 10/05/1974 Public law 93-434.

- Effective Oct 27 1974 to Feb 23 1975.

In the fall of 1973 there was an energy crisis. For the cause of saving energy, Congress voted to extend daylight saving time year round for two years.

At that time Daylight Time was observed from the last Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October. DST ended October 28th, 1973, and the bill to extend DST was introduced one week later. Congress worked quickly to pass the law in five weeks. The change became effective four weeks later on January 6th, 1974.

Each year the latest sunrise in the northern hemisphere occurs in the first week of January. That made this time change occur at the worst possible time of year. Northern cities such as New York City, Chicago and Denver jumped from a sunrise around 7:19am to a sunrise around 8:19am. Cities further west in their time zone saw changes like Seattle (7:56am sunrise jumped to 8:56am) and Toledo (8:01am sunrise jumped to 9:01am). Southern cities have longer winter days. Sunrise in Los Angeles jumped from 6:59am to 7:59am. Sunrise in Miami jumped from 7:08am to 8:00am.

(The law for the test allowed permanent standard time states such as Indiana and Arizona to remain on standard time. This avoided sunrise in Indianapolis jumping from 8:06am to 9:06am and sunrise in Phoenix jumping from 7:33am to 8:33am. Hawaii, Puerto Rico and other permanent standard time states/areas also did not participate in the test. The EST portion of Michigan opted out of the 1975 test period.)

The public reaction to the sudden change was drastic enough that Congress adjusted the test for the next winter. Instead of staying on DST for the winter of 1974-1975, DST ended on schedule on the last Sunday of October 1974. Congress allowed DST to begin early on the last Sunday in February (instead of the last Sunday in April) in 1975. Three week notice was given of this change.

So when someone says we tried permanent DST in 1974-1975 ... we did not. Leaving clocks set to Daylight Time at the end of October and letting sunrise gradually become later in the morning did not occur.

The interim DOT report filed in June 1975 was "inconclusive" but counters some claims made by "permanent standard time" proponents. The final DOT report filed in July 1975 supported the interim results with expanded data available. Unfortunately without a true test of year round DST we can only infer if the benefits seen with eight month DST would be increased by following "permanent DST".

One outcome of the 1975 report was support for eight month (March-October) DST, which was implemented effective 2007. A balance between the energy savings and other benefits (and lack of negative effects) seen in the final report and popular opinion of the time.

Summary of the DOT Interim Report (June 28 1974) Emphasis added.

Since the measurable effects of year-round daylight saving time (hereafter "YRDST") were small, there is no unambiguous direct evidence that they were either beneficial or harmful.

YRDST probably resulted in a flattening of the daily peakloads and a decrease on the order of 0.75 percent in electricity consumption for January and February. Savings of approximately 1 percent for March and April in fuel consumption for electricity production are inferred from the experience of transitions to daylight saving time in previous years. The predominant fuel saved is coal.
Total travel and gasoline used in the U.S. was generally reduced for winter months of 1973/1974 compared to the winter months of 1972/1973. However, YRDST may have resulted in a very small increase in travel and gasoline use in January and February in a few southern states where the weather was warm and where gasoline supply was not highly constrained last winter. In those states in which gasoline supply was constrained last winter, YRDST did not increase gasoline use, but may have modified travel patterns. In March and April, when gasoline supplies were more available and much larger areas of the country were warm, YRDST may have increased gasoline use as much as 0.5 to approximately 1.0 percent over the amount forecast under conditions of standard time.
Analyses of heating fuel effects of YRDST were inconclusive.
No significant effects on traffic safety can be attributed to YRDST. Data for January-March 1974, show a decrease of 23.8 percent in motor vehicle fatalities, as compared to the corresponding months of 1973, but this decline is largely attributable to the lowering of speed limits and restrictions on the availability of gasoline. Motor vehicle accident data (non-fatality data) for the period of YRDST in 1974 were not available for analysis. Theoretical analyses of previous year accident data were inconclusive.
Fatalities involving school age children over the entire day in both January and February 1974 are reduced from the previous year. There was an increase in school children fatalities during the morning hours of 6 to 9 a.m. for February 1974 v. February 1973, but an off-setting decrease in fatalities occurred in the early evening hours. The unusual winter travel conditions as a consequence of the energy crisis make interpretation of net YRDST effects difficult.
UPDATED IN FINAL REPORT to "school-age children did not suffer greater fatalities than those of the total population in accidents involving pedestrian/pedalcyclists, motor vehicles and their total, at any time of day".
Reports from 37 States and the District of Columbia indicate school districts in 18 States advanced their school hours because of the problems of dark mornings. About 44 percent of the school districts and 4 7 percent of the students enrolled in the 37 reporting States were affected by the schedule changes.
The Federal Communications Commission has reported that YRDST is causing adverse economic impacts for some daytime only and fulltime radio stations because of interference problems between these two classes of stations during their prime time morning rush-hour broadcasts.
The Department of Commerce reports no significant YRDST effects on domestic and international commerce, except for the construction industry. This industry opposes YRDST because of the safety hazards of working during the early morning darkness.
No measurable effects of YRDST were reported by cognizant Federal agencies in the areas of crime, agriculture, labor, and the use of parks and recreation facilities.
Daylight saving time is generally popular with the public, but not in the winter months of November through February.

(The public opinion poll was taken in February of 1974.)

Summary of the DOT Final Report (July 29 1974) Emphasis added.
(Note the shift from reporting on permanent DST to 8 month DST - a practice implemented effective 2007.)

There are probable electricity savings of approximately 1 percent in March and April. However, the net energy savings are unknown since further study may reveal partially offsetting increases in gasoline use.
There are indications of reductions in total motor vehicle fatalities for March and April of about 0.7%, or approximately 50 lives and 2000 injuries.
It is inferred that there is no statistically significant national DST impact on fatal accidents during March and April involving school-age children.
There is evidence of a 10 to 13% reduction in violent crimes during March and April in Washington, D. C.
No indications of significant disbenefits from the 8-4 system were found in this study.
Public opinion polls during the 1974 and 1975 study periods indicated public acceptance of DST for the months of March and April.

Table 1.4-1 Results of DST Impact Studies: The Experimental Eight-Four System vs. the Historical Six-Six System
Area	DST Impact	Comments
Travel	None perceived by our techniques; Technique would not perceive effect of less than 1.0 percent	Seasonal changes in travel obscure DST effects at DST transitions.
Electricity Usage	Approximate saving of 1% or 49,200 megawatts per day for March and April; No evidence of significant peak shaving.	Savings related to DST measured at transitions in October (1973 and 1974), in April (1973), and in January (1974)
Gasoline Consumption	None perceived by our techniques. Estimated maximum possible undetected impact of 0.5%.	Statistical analysis revealed a small DST effect (0.4%) which was not statistically significant.
Home Heating Fuel Consumption	Saving of less than 0.1 %	A maximum saving of 3000 barrels of oil and the equivalent of 5000 barrels of natural gas per day might occur in south and southwestern states only.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents	Reduction of approximately 0.7% or about 50 lives and 2000 injuries for March and April	Reduction is observed in a comparison between March and April 1974 (DST) and March and April 1973 -(non-DST). Also, spring and fall transition analysis of 1973 provide consistent results.
Motor Vehicle Fatal Accidents of School-Age Children	No special hazard to children compared to the total population at any time of day.	Two studies were conducted. The findings were that during the DST period of January to April, 1974, school-age children did not suffer greater fatalities than those of the total population in accidents involving pedestrian/pedalcyclists, motor vehicles and their total, at any time of day
A.M. Radio Broadcasting	0.01% loss per station
Crime	Evidence of 10 to 13% reduction in violent crimes in Washington, D.C.
Advance in School Hours	Essentially No Change	A few schools in two west and midwest states advanced hours where bus routes were long.
Election Day	Increases daylight during existing polling hours in almost all states.	A nine month system of DST would be required to cover all election days.

Full Interim Report
Executive Summary Final Report

Public Law No. 93-182 (12/15/1973) as enacted

To provide for daylight saving time on a year-round basis for a two-year trial period, and to require the Federal Communications Commission to permit certain daytime broadcast stations to operate before local sunrise.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973".

SEC. 2.

that the United States faces severe energy shortages, especially in the winter of 1973-1974 and in the next several winters thereafter;
that various studies of governmental and nongovernmental agencies indicate that year-round daylight saving time would produce an energy saving in electrical power consumption;
that daylight saving time may yield energy savings in other areas besides electrical power consumption;
that year-round daylight saving time could serve as an incentive for further energy conservation by individuals, companies, and the various governmental entities at all levels of government, and that such energy conservation efforts could lead to greatly expanded energy savings and help meet the projected energy shortages, and that such energy conservation efforts could include but not be limited to such actions as—

lowering office, home, and store thermostats several degrees;
limiting unnecessary automobile travel and holding down the speed of necessary automobile travel;
using energy efficient automobiles;
using public transportation whenever possible;
turning off office air-conditioners and heating plants an hour earlier in the afternoon; and
limiting unnecessary use of electric lights;

that the use of year-round daylight saving time could have other beneficial effects on the public interest, including the reduction of crime, improved traffic safety, more daylight outdoor playtime for the children and youth of our Nation, greater utilization of parks and recreation areas, expanded economic opportunity through extension of daylight hours to peak shopping hours and through extension of domestic office hours to periods of greater overlap with the European Economic Community; and
that the emergency nature of an energy shortage require the temporary enactment of daylight saving time.

SEC. 3.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3(a) of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a(a)), the standard of time of each zone established by the Act of March 19, 1918 (15 U.S.C. 261-264), as modified by the Act of March 4, 1921 (15 U.S.C. 265), shall be advanced one hour and such time as so advanced shall for the purposes of such Act of March 19,1918, as so modified, be the standard time of each such zone; except that any State with parts thereof in more than one time zone, and any State that lies entirely within one time zone and is not contiguous to any other State, may by law exempt the entire area of the State lying within one time zone from the provisions of this subsection.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a State, by proclamation of its Governor, makes a finding prior to the effective date of this Act, that an exemption from the operation of subsection (a) or a realignment of time zone limits is necessary to avoid undue hardship or to conserve fuel in such State or part thereof, the President or his designee may grant an exemption or realignment to such State.
Any law in effect on October 27, 1973, adopted pursuant to section 3(a)(2) of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 by a State with parts thereof in more than one time zone, or adopted pursuant to section 3(a)(l) of such Act by a State that lies entirely within one time zone and is not contiguous to any other State, shall be held and considered to remain in effect as the exercise by that State of the exemption permitted by subsection (a) of this section unless that State, by law, provides that such exemption shall not apply during the effective period of this Act.
The provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 and section 7 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 shall apply to the provisions of this section.

SEC. 4.

The Secretary of Transportation shall, on or before June 30, 1974, submit an interim report, and on or before June 30, 1975, submit a final report, to the Congress on the operation and effects of this Act. Each such report shall give particular attention to such effects on the use of energy in the United States, traffic safety, including the safety of children traveling to and from school, and the effect on school hours. Each such report shall also include such recommendations for legislation or other action as the Secretary may determine. The final report shall include any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to time zone limits.
The Secretary of Transportation shall consult with the departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States having information or expertise with respect to the operation and effects of this Act. Each such department, agency, and instrumentality shall exercise its powers, duties, and functions in such manner as will assist in carrying out the provisions of this section.

SEC. 5.

The authority of the Secretary of Transportation, under the first section of the Act of March 19, 1918 (15 U.S.C 261), to modify the limits of any time zone is suspended during the effective period of this Act.
SEC. 6.

Notwithstanding any other law or any regulation issued under any such law, the Federal Communication Commission shall, consistent with any existing treaty or other agreement, make such adjustment by general rules, or by interim action pending such general rules, with respect to hours of operation of daytime standard amplitude modulation broadcast stations, as may be consistent with the public interest, including the public's interest in receiving interference-free service. Such general rules, or interim action, may include variances with respect to operating power and other technical operating characteristics. Subsequent to the adoption of such general rules, they may be varied with respect to particular stations and areas because of the exigencies in each case.
SEC. 7.

This Act shall take effect at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the fourth Sunday which occurs after the date of enactment of this Act and shall terminate at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the last Sunday of April 1975.
Approved December 15, 1973.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11751 (12/15/1973)

Authorizing the Secretary of Transportation To Grant Exemptions From Daylight Saving Time and Realignments of Time Zone Limits

By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 3 (b ) of the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-182) (hereinafter “the Act” ), section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, and as President of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. The Secretary of Transportation (hereinafter “the Secretary” ) is hereby designated and empowered to exercise the authority vested in me by section 3(b) of the Act to grant an exemption from section 3(a) of the Act (which establishes daylight saving time as stands ard time), or a realignment of a time zone limit, pursuant to a proclamation of a Governor of a State finding that the exemption or realignment is necessary to avoid undue hardship or to conserve fuel in the State or a part thereof.

Sec. 2. In deciding to grant or deny an exemption or realignment, the Secretary shall-consider, among other things, the policy of the United States, as expressed in sections 2 and 4 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (80 S tat 107, 108; 15 UJS.G. 260, 261), to promote the adoption and observance of uniform time within the standard time zones of the United States and the convenience of commerce, as well as possible energy savings, undue hardship to large segments of the population, and the possible impact on the success of and cooperation with the national energy conservation program.

Sec. 3. In carrying out his responsibilities under this order, the Secretary shall, as he deems necessary, consult with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Federal Energy Office (or any agency which hereafter may succeed to its functions), and any other interested agency and he may call upon those agencies for information and advice. Each interested department or agency shall assist the Secretary, as necessary, to carry out the provisions of this order.

49 CFR PART 73 — EMERGENCY DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME (Effective 12/20/1973)

KENTUCKY Emergency Daylight Saving Time; Realignment [OST Docket No. 34, Notice No. 74-1] (01/04/74 Effective 01/06/74 2am CST)
(Eastern Kentucky except 12 counties moved to Central Time.)

ARIZONA Emergency Daylight Saving Time Exemption [OST Docket No. 34, Notice No. 74-2] (01/04/74 Effective 01/06/74 2am MST)

IDAHO AND OREGON Emergency Daylight Saving Time Exemptions [OST Docket No. 34, Notice No. 74-3} (01/04/74 Effective 01/06/74 2am MST)
(Idaho excempt until February 3rd at 2am MST to allow state legislature to pass a law exempting the MST portion of their state from DST.)
(Oregon exempt until February 24th at 2am MST to allow state legislature to pass a law exempting the MST portion of their state from DST.)
(Oregon MST area is adjacent to Idaho MST area and exemption can expire February 3rd if Idaho does not pass a law.)

OREGON Emergency Daylight Saving Time Exemption [OST Docket No. 34; Notice No. 74-5] (01/31/74 Effective 02/03/74 2am MST)
(Idaho legislature decided not to act. Oregon governor requested the end of exemption.)

MICHIGAN Eastern Time Exempt from DST (March 1974 Effective 10/27/74)
(Not found in Federal Register - Noted in Interim Report)

Public Law No. 93-434 (10/05/1974) as enacted

To amend the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973 to exempt from its provisions the period from the last Sunday in October, 1974, through the last Sunday in February, 1975.

Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled That section 3 of the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973 is amended—

by inserting immediately after "(15 U.S.C. 260a(a))," in subsection (a) the following "and except as provided in subsection (e) of this section,"; and
by adding at the end thereof the following subsection:

SEC. 2.

Section 4(a) of the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973 is amended by striking out "June 30, 1975" and inserting in lieu thereof "July 31, 1975".
Approved October 5, 1974.