A stable grid means the AC stays on
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees and reduce electricity use as high temperatures strained the power grid. He shared the request in a post on X, saying the measures would help maintain grid stability and keep power flowing during the heatwave. The post quickly drew widespread criticism online.
New York: it's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool.
Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you're not using, and unplug what you can.
Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings,…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) July 1, 2026
The post quickly spread across social media, generating thousands of reactions.Mamdani urged New Yorkers to “set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can.” He said the city was maintaining a 78-degree rule in government buildings, dimming lights during peak demand, asking private partners to reduce energy use, and powering down non-essential equipment. He added, “A stable grid means the AC stays on, and lives are saved.”
The post presents voluntary recommendations, not mandatory restrictions. It outlines the city’s energy-saving measures alongside advice for residents and businesses.
Public Reaction to Zohran Mamdani’s 78-Degree AC Request
The post sparked debate online, with many questioning why residents should conserve electricity while pointing to larger sources of energy use. Others defended the request as a practical response to extreme heat.
One user wrote, “Shut off the screens in Times Square first.” Another questioned, “Maybe you should tell any nearby data centers to go to 25% capacity instead.” A separate response added, “As a New Yorker I’ll be setting my AC to 62 degrees for the foreseeable future as a direct retaliation to your authority.” Another argued, “Americans will tolerate a lot of political nonsense. But tell them the grid can’t handle their AC because the ppl running the system failed to build enough energy, and suddenly everyone is wearing a powdered wig.”
Not everyone opposed the request. One person wrote, “It’s literally a request to assist with power stability, not some communist assault on comfort.” Another added, “NYC isn’t alone: many cities are requesting the same because of how insanely hot it is. Power companies are already putting out warnings or instituting rolling blackouts.”
Debate continues over whether voluntary conservation requests are an appropriate response during periods of peak electricity demand.
