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What You Need to Know About Daylight Saving Time and Why Arizona is Different

Vaseline September 23, 2024

As fall approaches, many Americans are preparing for vibrant leaves, crisp fall air, and trips to pumpkin patches. However, Arizonans may miss out on one thing the rest of the country is dealing with: the end of Daylight Savings Time.

The official start of fall on September 22 marks the end of Daylight Savings Time, meaning most clocks are turned back one hour.

Arizona has its quirks, though. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight Saving Time is the practice of setting clocks forward or back one hour to make better use of daylight. This year it began on March 10 and will end on November 3.

In March, most Americans set their clocks forward an hour to enjoy more daylight in the evening. In November, they gain an extra hour by setting their clocks back, maximizing morning daylight.

What is the origin of Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight Saving Time originated during the World Wars, first implemented by Germany in 1916 during World War I. The United States soon followed suit, implementing it as a wartime measure in 1918. Although it was repealed the following year, it was reintroduced in 1942 during World War II.

In 1966, the United States standardized time across the country with the Uniform Time Act, but Arizona and Hawaii chose to keep standard time.

While most of the US claims that Daylight Saving Time helps reduce energy costs, the situation in Arizona is very different.

What makes Arizona different?

Most of Arizona is on standard time year-round, meaning the clocks in the state are not adjusted throughout the year.

In 1967, Arizona abolished Daylight Saving Time because of its desert climate. It was reasoned that an extra hour of daylight would increase energy consumption during the hottest months, when people would need more cooling.

The Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona does observe Daylight Savings Time, which puts it one hour ahead of the rest of the state from March through October. Meanwhile, the Hopi Tribe, which is geographically surrounded by the Navajo Nation, does not observe Daylight Savings Time, creating a unique time “doughnut” in the region.

Until November 3, Arizona is aligned with the Pacific Time Zone, sharing the same time as California, Washington, Nevada, and parts of Oregon and Idaho. Once the rest of the U.S. “falls back” an hour, Arizona will return to Mountain Standard Time, the same as states like New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.

Are we the only ones?

Hawaii, which doesn’t experience much variation in daylight due to its proximity to the equator, is the only other state that keeps standard time year-round. Five U.S. territories also keep standard time.

American Samoa
Guam
The Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
The US Virgin Islands

While there have been attempts to standardize time in the U.S., they have largely failed. In 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Act, but it failed to pass in the House of Representatives. A 2023 version of the bill stalled in Congress.

Under the Sunshine Act, Arizona would remain in the same time zone as California.