Soon, you won’t be able to set your AC below 20°C. Here’s why

Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday announced a plan to standardise air conditioning temperatures, setting the range between 20°C and 28°C.

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on the achievements in the power sector over the past 11 years of the NDA government, Khattar said, “Regarding air conditioning standards, a new provision is being implemented soon. The temperature standardisation for ACs will be set between 20°C to 28°C, meaning we won't be able to cool below 20°C or warm above 28°C.”

"People say Japan has standardised AC temperatures at around 26-27°C, Italy at 23°C,” he noted.

To be sure, Japan has encouraged people and businesses to set their air conditioners at 28°C (82°F) for energy efficiency, but it hasn't been legally mandated.

The minister highlighted India’s robust power infrastructure, revealing that the country successfully met a peak power demand of 241 GW on June 9, 2025, with zero peak shortage reported.

"This achievement underscores the nation’s remarkable growth and resilience," the Ministry of Power said in a statement.

Khattar announced the approval of a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for 30 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), in addition to the 13.2 GWh already underway.

The Rs 5,400 crore scheme is expected to attract ₹33,000 crore in investment to meet India’s BESS needs by 2028.

The minister also said that the waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for storage projects has been extended until June 30, 2028, which will benefit Pumped Storage Projects awarded and BESS commissioned before this date.

"This extension is crucial for meeting India’s growing storage needs and optimising transmission line utilisation," the ministry stated.

Khattar announced plans to revolutionise power transmission with the rollout of an Ultra High Voltage Alternating Current (UHV AC) Transmission System.

Nine 1100 kV lines and ten substations have been identified for development by 2034, with an investment of ₹53,000 crore. Testing facilities are being developed by the Central Power Research Institute.