Prep for an extra hour of sleep. Here’s when daylight saving time ends in NC
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 2, cutting daylight to under 11 hours.
- Federal and North Carolina efforts to adopt permanent DST have stalled in 2023.
- Supporters cite energy savings and safety; critics raise health and tech concerns.
Daylight saving time is nearing its end, which means an extra hour of sleep.
And less sunlight in the coming weeks for North Carolina.
This year, daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 a.m., according to timeanddate.com.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac sunrise/sunset calculator, North Carolina residents are currently enjoying nearly 12.5 hours of sunlight per day with sunsets around 7:30 p.m.
However, in November, the sun will begin to set as early as 5:27 p.m., leaving residents with less than 11 hours of daylight, according to the calculator.
What is the purpose of daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time was initially intended to conserve energy by making better use of evening sunlight in the spring and summer.
A U.S. Department of Energy study found that a four-week extension in 2008 cut daily electricity use by about 0.5% – roughly 1.3 trillion watt-hours, enough to power 100,000 homes for a year. Supporters also point to added benefits, from safer roads and lower crime rates to boosts for the economy.
But critics argue the darker mornings can leave commuters and schoolchildren groggy, especially in winter. Farmers, faith groups and tech experts have also raised concerns about disrupted schedules, religious observances tied to solar or lunar time and the hassle of updating systems programmed for twice-yearly clock changes.
Is daylight saving time always the same time of year?
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 set nationwide start and end dates for daylight saving time, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The law also gives states the option to opt out. Arizona and Hawaii, along with the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, all remain on permanent standard time, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Could daylight saving time go away?
The twice-yearly clock change has held for decades, yet daylight saving time could be on its way out.
In 2023, federal lawmakers introduced the Sunshine Protection Act, a move that would “make daylight saving time the new, permanent standard time.” and ensure Americans no longer have to change their clocks twice a year. But the bill stalled in the House.
Senators tried again to introduce a bipartisan version of the bill in January, but it has yet to advance.
North Carolina bills filed in the Senate and House in 2023 would have allowed the state to adopt daylight saving time year-round if approved by Congress, The News & Observer reported. Both, similar to previous bills filed over the years in the state, fizzled out.
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 11:43 AM with the headline "Prep for an extra hour of sleep. Here’s when daylight saving time ends in NC."
