Premier has outlined why Bermuda needs to follow the example of the United States ? and effectively extend summer time by four weeks.

The US has already decided to increase its Daylight Saving Time (DST) by one month from March, 2007.

At the moment, DST for both Bermuda and the States starts on the first Sunday in April ? when clocks go forward one hour ? and ends on the last Sunday in October, when they fall back an hour.

Next year, however, clocks in the US will go forward on the second Sunday in March, until the first Sunday in November.

And, after the Time Zone (Seasonal Variation) Bill 2006 was passed in the House of Assembly on Friday, the same thing will happen in Bermuda.

Premier Alex Scott said the new law would keep the Island in step with the US. If Bermuda did not, he added, it would create confusion for airlines, businesses and the tourism industry.

Consultation with traders, hotels and unions revealed that the majority of groups contacted were in favour of changing. And the Premier added that a poll of residents showed that 64 percent backed Bermuda moving in line with America on time, with 27 percent opposed.

The case for extending DST in the US and other large countries was strengthened by arguments that extra hours of daylight would help reduce energy bills. But Mr. Scott told MPs there was very little evidence that the switch would lead to similar savings for Bermuda.

Technology with US software, such as computers and cell phones, would change times automatically, the Premier added.

Fears have been raised in America that the time change could involve a slew of updates for software and gadgets built around a DST schedule unchanged since 1987.