Q: “I’m just curious, why do we have have to change the clock every six months, or whatever it is? I know they started it during WWII. We don’t have to have it now. I know I’m not the only one who really has a hard time adjusting to the change of time. Why can’t we just leave it like it is? I like it in the summer when we have longer evenings. Why can’t we have it like that?
— Beverly Dahl

A: According to the California Energy Commission (energy.ca.gov/daylightsaving.html), Daylight Saving Time was used as far back as 1918, when Congress passed a law mandating it in an effort to help the nation conserve energy during WWI. But the unpopular law was later repealed.
During WWII, Congress implemented Daylight Saving Time year-round.
Following the end of the war in 1945 until 1966, however, there was no clear-cut law about Daylight Saving Time. States and localities were free to implement it or not.
This became a ticking time mess, especially in broadcasting, and train and air travel schedules.
So a law was passed called the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which states that if Daylight Saving Time is to be observed, it must be done so uniformly. Most states observe it, but not Hawaii and most of Arizona. Local ordinances may be passed to become exempt from the use of Daylight Savings Time.
As of last year, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and lasts until 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November.
The logic behind Daylight Saving Time is that by reducing the time between sunset and bedtime, people use less electricity at home for lighting and other appliances — and because they are likely to do more outdoor activities when it’s light out longer.