Last time change: the effects on bills are surprising, the Chamber launches an investigation into permanent daylight saving time

The countdown for the arrival of daylight saving time has begun. It will take effect between next Saturday and Sunday. And it could be the last time. The parliamentary process has started in the Chamber for the possible permanent introduction of it in Italy. The Productive Activities committee has approved the start of the exploratory investigation "on the impact of permanent daylight saving time on the national territory: effects and repercussions on the sectors," presented last November at the initiative of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (Sima), Consumerism No Profit, and the deputy Andrea Barabotti (Lega). At the end, scheduled for the end of June, a decision could also be made to start a first experimental phase.

The discussion originates from the public consultation launched by the European Commission in 2018, which involved 4.6 million European citizens: 84% expressed support for the abolition of the time change. In 2019, the European Parliament approved a proposal for a directive to allow individual states the freedom to choose between permanent daylight saving time or standard time; however, the process stalled due to the pandemic and disagreements among member countries, leaving the issue unresolved.

The document that initiates the exploratory investigation emphasizes how three studies presented at the European level agree that the abolition of the time change and the application of a single system for the entire year would result in documented energy savings and a benefit for the European internal market and transportation.

The latest official data provided by Terna and referring to Italy indicate that between 2004 and 2025, there is "a lower consumption of electricity due to daylight saving time of over 12 billion kWh" which has resulted, in economic terms, in "savings for citizens of about 2.3 billion euros", while the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine has highlighted how, thanks to daylight saving time, CO2 emissions in the atmosphere "are reduced by between 160,000 and 200,000 tons less per year", equivalent to that absorbed by planting 2 to 6 million new trees.

“In light of the evidence collected - it is written in the request to initiate the consultation process in the Chamber - it seems appropriate to promote an exploratory investigation to objectively assess the impacts of permanent daylight saving time on the national territory regarding the Italian energy and production sectors. This study should involve research entities and economic organizations, in order to provide Parliament and the Government with an updated picture of the benefits and critical issues of the measure. The final decision cannot disregard a comprehensive view that takes into account energy sustainability and economic competitiveness.”

The exploratory investigation has several objectives and evaluates, among other things, the possibility of a trial phase with an extension of daylight saving time. The in-depth analysis will involve a comparison between models that foresee seasonal time changes or the adoption of permanent daylight saving time and the assessment of socio-economic effects, the repercussions on the country's production fabric in terms of potential energy savings and increased productivity. An analysis of the data and currently available documentation, as well as the evaluations provided by the parties heard in the Commission, are also planned.

The next step will be the hearings of the parties who will be called to express their opinions and present studies, research, and data on the effects of permanent daylight saving time. Representatives of institutions, independent authorities, the European Commission and the EU Parliament, international organizations operating in the sector, trade associations (Confindustria, Confcommercio, Confartigianato, etc.); consumer associations and experts from the academic world or research institutes will be heard. The aim is to conclude the exploratory investigation by June 30. Thus, in time to decide to not return to standard time.