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Time in Chile

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Time in Chile is divided into two time zones. Continental Chile uses the time offset UTC−03:00. Additionally, Easter Island uses the time offset UTC−05:00.[1]

Until 2015, Continental Chile used the time offset UTC−04:00 and Easter Island used UTC−06:00 for standard time, with daylight saving time roughly between October and March every year. In January 2015 the Chilean government announced that all the country will keep the time offset used during daylight saving time permanently.[2][3] Indeed, there was no time change in 2015, however the annual time change was reinstated in 2016 after feedback from the public about an increase in truancy during the winter months,[4] complaints about older computers and other electronic devices not using the right time zone, and fruit growers reporting a 15% loss in productivity.[5]

Chile will return to UTC−04:00 for winter time for 3 months starting in 2016. This will begin the second Saturday in May (May 14) and end on the second Saturday of August (August 13).[6]

Current time zone

The official time on the mainland is now UTC−03:00, and on Easter Island is UTC−05:00.

Defunct time zones

Standard time (CLT/EAST)

Standard time in Chile was used in Chile until 2015. The time zone Chile Standard Time (CLT) was used on the mainland with the offset UTC−04:00 and Easter Island Standard Time (EAST) was used on Easter Island with the offset UTC−06:00.

On March 1, 1894, the first official time signal operates in Valparaiso at -4 hours, 46 minutes and 34 seconds with respect to GMT, as UTC did not exist.[7]

In 1903, another official time was operating in Coquimbo. It was synchronized at -4 hours, 45 minutes 20.7 seconds with respect to GMT.[7]

On January 10, 1910, Chile adopted GMT-5 as its official time.[7]

On July 1, 1919, time was set as 4 hours 42 minutes 46.3 seconds behind Greenwich.[7]

Summer time (CLST/EASST)

Summer time in Chile, also known as daylight saving time (DST) in Chile was used in Chile from 1970 to 2015. The time zone Chile Summer Time (CLST) was used on the mainland with the offset UTC−03:00 and Easter Island Summer Time (EASST) was used on Easter Island with the offset UTC−05:00. In mainland Chile, time was changed at 24:00 on a Saturday, i.e. at 0:00 on the following Sunday. In Easter Island, time was changed at 20:00 on a Saturday.[7] In 2015, the time offset used in this time zone eventually became the only time zone in Chile.

Several exceptions have been decreed to the current rule that began in 1970:

  • In 1987 the daylight saving time was extended until Saturday 11 April to accommodate a visit by Pope John Paul II[7]
  • In 1988, daylight saving time began a week early, to have more light for the Chilean national plebiscite of 5 October[8]
  • In 1990, daylight saving time was extended to 17 March, because Patricio Aylwin began his presidential period on 11 March[8]
  • In 1990, daylight saving time began at the end of 15 September, in order to save electricity due to unfavorable hydrological conditions[8]
  • In 1997, standard time began at the end of 29 March, in order to cope with unfavorable hydrological conditions[9]
  • In 1999, daylight saving time was extended to the first Saturday of April, due to a severe drought[7]
  • In 2008, daylight saving time was extended 3 weeks, due to a severe drought[7]
  • Due to the 2010 Chile earthquake daylight saving time ended at 0:00 of 4 April on Continental Chile (20:00 Saturday 3rd on Easter Island)[10]
  • In 2011 the government decided to end daylight saving on the first Saturday of April. Later this was postposed to the first Saturday of May.[11]
  • On February 15, 2013 DST was extended to the last Sunday of April and started DST on the 2nd Sunday of September. These dates would be nearly the exact dates of DST of North America reversed to the southern hemisphere from the northern hemisphere but DST end date 1 week early.[12]

IANA time zone database

Zones for Chile as given in the file zone.tab of the IANA time zone database.

coordinates TZ Comments UTC offset DST Notes
−3327−07040 America/Santiago Chile - most locations −03:00 i
−2709−10926 Pacific/Easter Easter Island & Sala y Gomez −05:00 g

See also

References

  1. ^ From timeanddate.com, all retrieved 2013-06-17:
    • "CLT – Chile Standard Time".
    • "CLST – Chile Summer Time".
    • "EAST – Easter Island Standard Time".
    • "EASST – Easter Island Summer Time".
  2. ^ "Chile keeps Daylight time". January 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "Chile abolishes Daylight Saving Time". January 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "Chile to switch back to Standard Time". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  5. ^ "Chile: Fruit growers blame productivity loss on abolition of DST". June 10, 2015.
  6. ^ "Government determines use of winter schedule for three months this year". March 13, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "History of the Official Time of Chile". Hora Oficial. Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada de Chile. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06.
  8. ^ a b c Preguntas Frecuentes, Hora Oficial de Chile, page 5, Template:Es icon
  9. ^ Preguntas Frecuentes, Hora Oficial de Chile, page 6, Template:Es icon
  10. ^ Chile Extends Daylight Saving Due to Earthquake Time and Date, 10 March 2010
  11. ^ EMOL, March 28, 2011, Gobierno pospone cambio de hora hasta el primer sábado de mayo Template:Es icon
  12. ^ Chile extends DST to April 27,2013 Time and Date, 5 March 2013
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