Does changing time always save money?

The time change has been dividing for nearly 50 years. On the night of Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 October, we will switch to winter time. Originally, the time change was introduced to provide less light in the evening. President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing was looking to save money after the oil shock of 1976. At the time, the measure made it possible to lower oil consumption. Over time, increasingly efficient lighting systems have changed the situation.

Today, changing the clock only saves 0.07% of annual electricity consumption. According to a British study, staying on summer time would reduce bills, taking advantage of a little more sun in the evening. “In Great Britain, the peak of consumption occurs between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. If there is less lighting at this time, households could save between 230 and 460 euros per year”notes Aoife Foley, professor of clean energy at Queen’s University in Belfast (Northern Ireland). The position divides Europe, where the sun does not set everywhere at the same time.