New Daylight Saving Time Requires checks of computer systemsFebruary 2007

New Daylight Saving Time requires checks of computer systems

This year, new federal rules will extend Daylight Saving Time by four weeks. The change was part of the national Energy Policy Act of 2005.

This means Daylight Saving Time will start and end differently than the current rules built into your organization's computer systems. Your systems may record inaccurate time if adjustments are not made.

Previously, Daylight Saving Time started on the first Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October. Now, Daylight Saving Time will begin on the second Sunday in March (three weeks earlier) and end on the first Sunday in November (one week later). This year, Daylight Saving Time will begin on March 11 and end on November 4.

Technology that keeps time for accurate tracking of events will be affected. The obvious applications involve calendaring and scheduling. Many transaction logs are the legal record of the transactions they record, and having them off by an hour can create legal implications. For instance, a 23-hour computer day may not pass formal inspection in a 24-hour legal world.

The Washington State Department of Information Services (DIS) has been preparing for the time change and assures its customers that all DIS services affected by the change will be updated accordingly.

DIS encourages your organization to inventory the equipment and software you own and support, and prepare mitigation plans to address this change. DIS is prepared to assist you in this transition.

For more information

If you have any questions, please contact DIS Enterprise Business Solutions at 360-902-0349, or e-mail John Ditto at ditto@dis.wa.gov.