Do You Know The Real Reason Arizona Doesn’t Change Its Clocks?

Arizona does what it wants. Said another way, Arizona’s independent spirit means we follow a slightly different set of rules out here in the West.

If you’ve ever wondered why Arizona skips the twice-a-year clock change, read on.

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Why Doesn’t Arizona Bother Changing the Clocks?

Arizona decided against Daylight Saving Time (DST) many years ago. But why?

It’s not just about being stubborn or independent. The real reason is much more practical: heat.

When the federal government rolled out the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states were allowed to opt out of DST. Arizona gave it a try, but only briefly.

By 1968, Arizona realized that adding an extra hour of daylight to scorching summer evenings was a terrible idea, especially when it meant our electric bills went up because we were running air conditioners longer, and it chopped up the evenings so people had fewer comfortable hours outdoors.

Read: Is It Illegal to Harm a Rattlesnake In Arizona?

Did You Know One Part of Arizona Still Changes Time?

One part of Arizona still follows Daylight Saving Time: the Navajo Nation. Since the Nation stretches into states that do change clocks, staying in sync makes travel and gatherings easier.

However, the Hopi Reservation, located within the Navajo Nation, does not observe DST. This creates one of the most unusual time-zone situations in the country.

When Did Arizona Stop Changing Its Clocks?

Arizona officially stopped using DST in 1968, just two years after the Uniform Time Act passed.

More daylight in the summer simply meant more hours of intense desert heat, so the state decided to stick with one time. In winter, Arizona is on Mountain Standard Time. In summer, it follows Pacific Time.

Dealing with Spring in Arizona? Here's How To Tell Allergies From Illness In Arizona's Spring

A Good Idea—If Only Everyone Else Would Stop Changing the Clocks

We can act smug when we get to sleep in an extra hour while everyone else falls back, but in reality, it’s not nearly as much fun as it could be.

For many of us, our world is knit together by online meetings and deadlines. While everyone keeps the 10 o’clock meeting at 10 am, we have to figure out whether it’s an hour earlier or an hour later. Explaining this to others is exhausting.

C’mon, Congress. Ditch the time change, already. We don’t care what you choose, just get rid of it and save us all the headache.