India Plans to Cap AC Temperature at 20°C to Curb Power Demand Amid Rising Heat

India plans to cap AC temperatures at 20°C to reduce electricity use during heatwaves. This new rule applies to homes, hotels, and cars. Officials say it will ease grid pressure, avoid blackouts, and save massive infrastructure costs. The government is also investing in battery storage for renewable energy expansion.

The Indian government is set to introduce a new regulation that would prevent air conditioners from being set below 20°C, even during intense summer heat. This rule will apply across homes, hotels, and vehicles, as part of a nationwide push to reduce electricity consumption and manage rising energy demands.

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that the proposed policy will standardize air conditioning temperatures between 20°C and 28°C. The initiative is designed to ease pressure on the national power grid, especially during peak summer months when widespread AC use pushes electricity consumption to record highs.

Khattar noted that air conditioners alone account for around 50 gigawatts of electricity demand—approximately 20% of the country’s peak load. With power usage expected to climb to 270 gigawatts this summer, the government aims to prevent blackouts and reduce the need for massive infrastructure spending.

Pankaj Agarwal, a senior official in the power ministry, cited studies showing that increasing AC settings by just 1°C can reduce energy use by 6%. Given the country has over 100 million ACs, and 15 million more are added annually, this small change could have a significant impact. Experts estimate that temperature control policies could save 60 gigawatts of power demand by 2035, avoiding ₹7.5 trillion in spending on new power plants.

Alongside this, the government is pushing renewable energy efforts. It plans to invest in battery storage systems with a total capacity of 30 gigawatt-hours to store solar and wind power. ₹5,400 crore in subsidies will be offered to support this initiative, with tenders expected within three months.

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By combining energy-efficient cooling policies and green energy expansion, India hopes to make its power grid more resilient and environmentally sustainable.