Having reminded folks in southwest Michigan to set their clocks forward in observance of daylight saving time (DST), U.S. Rep. Fred Upton went one step further to explain the savings that comes from losing that hour of sleep when springing forward.

As part of the 2005 Energy Bill, Upton and Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., amended the Uniform Time Act of 1996 to increase the portion of the year that is subject to DST, providing longer hours of daylight and helping consumers cut back on peak-hour electricity usage.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) affirmed that extending Daylight Saving Time (DST) for four weeks saves American families nearly $500 million and 2.9 million barrels of oil each year.

“Between energy conservation, lower bills and fewer traffic accidents, the benefits of extending Daylight Saving Time are many — not to mention the additional hour of sunshine in the evening will help chase away the winter blues,” said Upton.

“Government studies have proven the more daylight during the waking hours, the less electricity people use,” he said. “Most importantly, Michigan’s families struggling to get by are now seeing real savings in their power bills.”

The amendment extended the duration of DST in the spring by changing its start date from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March, and in the fall by changing its end date from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in November.