In a significant step towards energy conservation, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced on Tuesday that the government is moving to standardize air conditioner temperature settings across the country. The move comes as India faces record-high power demand amid an intense heatwave sweeping several states, with temperatures soaring to 46–47°C in many cities.
Speaking on the occasion of 11 years of the Narendra Modi-led government, Khattar revealed that a new temperature regulation for air conditioners is in the works. As part of the upcoming standards, the cooling temperature will be capped at 20°C, and heating at 28°C. “This is a first-of-its-kind experiment. Once we receive adequate feedback, it will be rolled out officially,” he said.
#WATCH | Your AC in India can’t cool below 20 degrees, Minister announces new norms #AirConditioner #AC pic.twitter.com/9v80ZV12NB
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Comparing India’s new limits to international benchmarks, Khattar said that the country is still on the lower side. The initiative is part of a broader effort to manage electricity usage more efficiently, especially during peak summer months when power consumption spikes due to increased use of air conditioning and cooling systems.
According to a report from the Power Ministry, India has recently upgraded the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners, ceiling fans, and refrigerators to promote energy savings and reduce household electricity bills.
Khattar also shared that India’s energy infrastructure has made remarkable progress in the last decade. The country’s peak power demand of 241 GW was successfully met on June 9, 2025 — the highest ever recorded. Notably, the year 2024–25 saw a record addition of 34 GW in power generation capacity, out of which 29.5 GW came from renewable sources.
With the total installed power capacity now at 472.5 GW — nearly double the 249 GW recorded in 2014 — Khattar declared that India is moving confidently toward becoming a power-surplus nation.
