She raised her AC temperature by 6°C and saved 60% on her power bill

A small change to your AC temperature could make a noticeable difference to your electricity bill, at least according to one content creator's experiment. Pooja, who posts on X as @poojaofficial5, says her monthly electricity bill dropped from around Rs 3,500 to Rs 1,292 after she raised her air conditioner setting from 22°C to 28°C. That is a fall of more than 60%. She says her AC usage remained roughly the same at five to seven hours a day. If the difference continued throughout the year, she estimated that she could save around Rs 26,500.

Screengrab of her post on X.

AC TEMPERATURE CHANGE FROM 22°C TO 28°C

Pooja said she first ran her AC at 22°C for two months, using it for around five to seven hours every day. Her electricity bill during this period was about Rs 3,500 a month.

She then changed the AC temperature to 28°C and continued using the AC for roughly the same amount of time for another two months.

The result, according to her, was a monthly electricity bill of Rs 1,292.

That worked out to a saving of about Rs 2,208 a month. She said she did not buy a new AC or make any major investment.

“I simply changed the temperature setting,” she wrote.

She also said the room took longer to cool initially at 28°C, but became comfortable after some time.

DOES A HIGHER AC TEMPERATURE SAVE ELECTRICITY?

There is some official support for the basic idea that a higher AC setting can reduce energy use, although Pooja's exact 60% saving has not been independently verified.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) says every 1°C increase in the temperature setting can save approximately 6% on an electricity bill. It recommends maintaining ACs at around 24°C and says running an AC at 24°C instead of 20°C can save approximately 24% electricity.

However, this does not mean everyone will see a 60% reduction. The actual electricity bill depends on the AC's efficiency, room size and insulation, outdoor weather and how long the appliance is used. Pooja herself acknowledged that her results may not apply equally to everyone.

ONE MORE AC TIP

Pooja also advised users to clean their AC filters regularly, which can help maintain efficiency.

Her larger point was simple: saving electricity does not always mean switching off the AC or buying a new appliance.

“Sometimes, you do not need to switch off the AC to save electricity. You just need to use it a little smarter.”