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Indiana Springs Forward On Sunday

Written on March 4, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Categories: Entertainment Archive 2014, News Archive 2014

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indiana time zoneAt 2 a.m. Sunday, Indiana springs forward with daylight saving time. For most of us, moving the clock forward one hour on a Sunday is not a big deal.

But, starting Monday, March 10, make sure to have all of your watches and clocks — don’t forget your automobile clocks — straightened out so you don’t oversleep for work.

Indiana adopted DST on April 2, 2006, with the passing of Senate Bill 0127. Prior to that, 77 of Indiana’s 92 counties were in the EST zone and did not observe DST. Five counties — Clark, Dearborn, Floyd, Harrison and Ohio County — were in the eastern time zone and did observe DST while another 10 counties —  Gibson, Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick — were in the central time zone and also observed DST.Changes have continued to occur in the time zone status of several Indiana counties since 2006, but today, 80 counties are in the eastern time zone and 12 counties recognize central time.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is the authority over time zone observances, DST is preferred because Americans enjoy more light in the evenings to enjoy outdoor activities, it saves energy by trimming the entire country’s electricity usage by less than one percent each day, and studies have found that it is good for public health and safety.

However, research from the University of California showed that having the entire state to switch to DST would cost Indiana households about $8.6 million in electricity bills each year. The study also estimated social costs of increased pollution emissions that ranged from $1.6 to $5.3 million per year. The study also suggested the reduced cost of lighting in the afternoons during DST would be offset by higher air-conditioning costs on hot afternoons and increased heating costs on cool mornings.

Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, DST is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

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