Best AC Temperature to Save Electricity (and Still Stay Cool)

In an Odisha summer, the AC can easily become the biggest item on your electricity bill. The simplest way to reduce it costs nothing: set the right temperature. Many people still set 16–18°C, believing it cools faster. It doesn't — it just makes the compressor run longer.

Why 24°C is the recommended default

Since 1 January 2020, rules notified by the Government of India with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) require star-labelled room ACs sold in India to come with a factory default setting of 24°C — you can still change it with the remote. Most people are comfortable at around 24–26°C, especially with a fan, and every degree lower makes the AC work harder against the outside heat. BEE estimates that raising the set temperature by just 1°C saves about 6% of the AC's electricity use, and moving from 20°C to 24°C can save about 24%.

10 tips to reduce AC electricity use

1. Set 24–26°C and use a ceiling fan on low speed alongside the AC.
2. Clean the filters every 2–3 weeks in summer — dirty filters reduce airflow and efficiency.
3. Get the AC serviced before summer; dirty coils make the compressor work harder. See how often to service your AC.
4. Close doors and windows, and draw curtains on sun-facing windows during the afternoon.
5. Use sleep or eco mode at night, which gradually raises the temperature.
6. Use the timer so the AC switches off after you fall asleep or before you wake.
7. Keep the outdoor unit shaded and well ventilated — not boxed in or facing a wall.
8. Choose the right size AC for the room — read our AC tonnage guide.
9. Consider an inverter AC if you run it for many hours a day.
10. Fix low cooling early — a gas leak or weak capacitor makes the AC run longer for the same comfort.

When your AC uses more power than it should

If your bill has jumped without a change in usage, or the AC runs constantly without reaching the set temperature, it may have dirty coils, low gas or an electrical fault. Our guide on AC not cooling explains the usual causes.