Heatwave Alert! Delhi Sees Hottest Day of 2025: Can Consumers Slash AC Bills This Summer?

Delhi experienced the hottest day of 2025 on March 26 with temperatures reaching 40.5 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The observatory at Ridge recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius on March 26, which is 6.3 notches above normal. It surpassed the previous highest of the year, 37.1 degrees Celsius, recorded on March 25, according to HT.

In March 2024, the highest temperature of the month was recorded on March 29 at 37.8 degrees Celsius and the year before that, the hottest day of the month was March 15, recording a maximum temperature of 34.3 degrees Celsius, the IMD data showed.

Delhi experienced such a high temperature in March back in 2022, when it peaked at 39.1 degree Celsius on March 29, reported HT.

The met department has also predicted nearly double the number of heatwave days across Northwest India in the summer season. The region records five to six heatwave days in a season usually, but this year, it is likely to experience 10 to 12 days.

As temperatures soar, the demand for cooling is also bound to increase, leading to higher electricity consumptions and costs.

Can Consumers Slash AC Bills?

A report published by India Energy and Climate Centre (IECC) revealed that India experienced a sharp surge in electricity demand driven by widespread adoption of room air conditioners (ACs), propelled by rising incomes, urbanisation and increasingly frequent heatwaves. With more households depending on ACs, consumers usually bear the brunt of high electricity bills during the months struck by heatwaves.

As per the IECC report, using energy efficient ACs can cut down the expense of consumers drastically. By revising the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), India can make more efficient ACs available to consumers. This would involve increasing the 1-star label to ISEER 5.0 by 2027, ISEER 6.3 by 2030 and ISEER 7.4 by 2035. These steps would reduce peak demand by over 60 GW by 2035, avoid Rs 7.5 trillion in grid investments and provide consumers with savings of up to Rs 2.2 trillion.

The report indicated that strengthening the MEPS standards can accelerate their adoption since India’s AC market has already matured significantly.

To accelerate market transformation, the report suggested that it is essential to strengthen the MEPS (1-star level) rather than just nudging the upper end of the star scale. If MEPS revisions remain weak or infrequent, the market may end up relying on less efficient products, which would weaken the overall programme.

Additionally, supporting measures like bulk procurement and consumer incentives can lower the upfront costs of energy-efficient ACs, making them accessible to more people. Fiscal tools such as tiered incentives, reduced GST and duties on inefficient components will speed up the transition toward more efficient cooling solutions.

Consumers can slash their AC bills by opting for the energy-efficient models. With the right regulatory changes and supporting measures, India can save on electricity costs, avoid power shortages and reduce environmental impact.