Changing the clock 1 hour ahead – summer time Ukraine – why is the clock changing

The Ministry of Economy was informed about the transfer of the shooters. It was noted there: the introduction of summer time is a generally accepted international practice.

“On March 31, Ukraine switches to summer time – at 3 (three) o’clock Kyiv time, the hands of the clock are moved forward by 1 (one) hour. The transition to winter and summer time takes place in accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 509 dated 13.05.1996 “On the order of time calculation on the territory of Ukraine,” the message says.

However, in the expert environment, not everyone shares the opinion that changing the time helps to save electricity. For example, energy market analyst Maksym Bilyavsky believes that this argument is based on less intensive use of street lighting. However, due to the fact that in recent years many regional centers of Ukraine have switched to LED lamps, this effect is minimal.

“According to my subjective estimates, with the translation of the arrows, it is possible to save no more than 2% of the amount of electricity, and this is at the level of statistical error. At the same time, as the experience of the heating season showed in the conditions of Russian attacks on energy facilities, we need more. That is, the the idea should not be rejected completely, but we first of all need to move in the direction of reducing the energy intensity of industrial enterprises,” Bilyavsky noted.

Moreover, an attempt has already been made in Ukraine to cancel the translation of the hour hands. A few years ago, the Ministry of Economy came up with a corresponding initiative, where they noted that this, among other things, would allow:

• to increase the working capacity of people;
• reduce the number of various man-made accidents.

However, then the idea was rejected for unknown reasons.

The “Servant of the People” party planned to cancel the transition to summer time for the second time in 2021. The draft law was passed in the first reading, but the final vote did not take place.

Similar conversations are also taking place in Europe. There, a few years ago, there were doubts about the practical benefit of translating the hands of the hours.

“The main argument, thanks to which “summer time” appeared, simply does not work. Diode or energy-saving lamps are used for lighting, and its share in the overall balance of electricity consumption has become insignificant, and the saving of electricity due to the transfer of arrows is generally vanishingly small,” they noted analysts

At the same time, real energy saving is achieved by direct saving of electricity. What is especially relevant for Ukrainians in the conditions of regular shelling of the country’s energy infrastructure by the Russian Federation.

As told by the Kyiv City State Administration (KHGA), the most energy-consuming among the electrical appliances familiar to Ukrainians is the electric stove. It consumes 4-8 kW. In second place are radiators, air conditioners, boilers and oil heaters, consuming 2-3 kW each. Next are:

• washing machine – from 2 to 2.5 kW;
• microwave oven and electric kettle – 1.5-2 kW each;
• hairdryer, vacuum cleaner, iron – 0.5-1.5 kW each;

• computer – 0.4-0.8 kW;
• refrigerator – 0.3-0.6 kW;
• TV – 0.1-0.4 kW.