Venezuela will move to a new time zone in May to save energy

Venezuela is changing its time zone to save energy during its ongoing electricity crisis. Its current time zone is UTC-4:30, and the new one will be UTC-4.^[1][2]

The change will take place on 1 May 2016.^[1][2] With the new time zone, the sun will set 30 minutes later by the clock, which is meant to reduce electricity use in homes.

The man behind the plan is President Nicolás Maduro, who has led the country since 2013. Other steps to save energy include regulating energy use in 15 shopping malls that have not provided their own generators, despite being told to do so. Public sector workers will also have every Friday off until 6 June to save energy.^[1] Another, more surprising, way to save energy: women are being urged to use their hair dryers less.

Correction, 24 October 2026: The old time zone was UTC-4:30, not UTC-3:30.^[1]

Update, 26 October 2026: The change happened as planned: at 02:30 on 1 May 2016 the clocks went forward 30 minutes, to UTC-4, the time Venezuela had used until December 2007.^[2] Venezuela still keeps UTC-4 all year, with no daylight saving time.^[2]