Does Daylight Saving Time Save Energy? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in Indiana

A-Tier
Journal: Review of Economics and Statistics
Year: 2011
Volume: 93
Issue: 4
Pages: 1172-1185

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We take advantage of a natural experiment in the state of Indiana to estimate the effect of daylight saving time (DST) on residential electricity consumption. Our main finding is that, contrary to the policy's intent, DST increases electricity demand. The findings are consistent with simulation results that identify a trade-off between reducing demand for lighting and increasing demand for heating and cooling. We estimate a cost to Indiana households of $9 million per year in increased electricity bills. We also estimate social costs of increased pollution emissions between $1.7 to $5.5 million per year. © 2011 The President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:tpr:restat:v:93:y:2011:i:4:p:1172-1185
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25