Govt directs minimum AC temp at 25°C to curb power demand

The government has directed that air conditioners (ACs) in government and private offices, as well as residences, be set at a minimum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius to conserve energy during the upcoming summer and Ramadan.

The Cabinet Division issued a circular in this regard today, which was sent to senior secretaries, secretaries, and heads of offices and agencies for implementation.

With Ramadan, the summer season, and the irrigation period coinciding this year, electricity demand is expected to rise significantly, according to the circular. 

Maintaining AC thermostats at or above 25 degrees Celsius can help manage this demand effectively, it adds. All government, autonomous, statutory, and private organizations have been urged to implement this directive.

Besides, the Ministry of Commerce has been instructed to inform private sector businesses through various trade organisations, while the Ministry of Social Welfare and the NGO Affairs Bureau have been asked to notify non-governmental organisations (NGOs) about the directive.

Earlier, on 17 February, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan announced that ACs would not be allowed to operate below 25°C this summer. He also warned that non-compliance with the directive could result in power disconnection and legal action.

"This measure will be taken to reduce power outages during the summer," said the adviser. "During winter, electricity demand in the country stands at 9,000MW, but in summer, it rises to between 17,000MW and 18,000MW."

He identified two key contributors to this surge: irrigation, which requires 2,000MW, and air conditioning, which alone consumes around 5,000MW.

"ACs are now widely used even in rural areas, often set at unnecessarily low temperatures while people wear sweaters and coats," he noted.

To ensure compliance, power distribution companies will form monitoring teams. "If excessive electricity consumption is detected, load shedding will be implemented in that area."