The Debate Over Permanent Daylight Saving Time: Historical Precedent and Sunrise Impacts

If the country were to adopt permanent DST, regions across the U.S. would experience significantly delayed sunrise times during winter months, with some cities seeing the sun rise as late as 9:00 a.m. or beyond, according to data analyzed by AccuWeather and Nexstar Media Group.

Projected Sunrise Times Under Permanent Daylight Saving Time

Shifting the nation to permanent Daylight Saving Time would move the clock forward by one hour year-round. This change effectively pushes the sunrise and sunset times later into the day. Based on calculations for January 15, a date representative of mid-winter, the impact on local schedules would be pronounced:

• Dallas, Texas: Sunrise would occur at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time, with sunset following shortly after 6:40 p.m., according to AccuWeather.
• Indianapolis, Indiana: Residents would not see sunrise until after 9:00 a.m. local time, per AccuWeather projections.
• Juneau, Alaska: Residents would experience the shift, with sunrise occurring after 11:00 a.m. and sunset around 4:40 p.m. during winter months, as estimated by Nexstar.

Historical Context: The 1974 Permanent DST Experiment

The proposal for year-round Daylight Saving Time is not a modern innovation. In 1974, the United States observed permanent Daylight Saving Time—but only for a few months.

The experiment was short-lived. Because the sun rose significantly later in the morning, people were getting up and going to work and school in the dark. The resulting public dissatisfaction led to the clock changes being soon reintroduced.

Comparing Permanent DST and Standard Time