How to Collapse "Locale settings" (TimeZone) in User Profile with hook_form_FORM_ID_alter();
This is a bit of a hack but it worked for me.

My desired effect was to have the Locale Settings start out collapsed and be expandable, every other solution out there suggests just "turning it off".  I still need to use the Locale settings though.  Anyway!!! Execute this jquery on the edit user profile page ( I inserted it using a hook_form_alter):

(function($){
  $(document).ready(function(){
    $('#edit-timezone .fieldset-wrapper').toggle();
    $('#edit-timezone').addClass('collapsed');
  });
})(jQuery);