politics
New York City Mayor Urges 78-Degree Thermostat Setting to Ease Power Demand During Heat Wave
Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted guidance Wednesday directing residents to limit electricity use during a heat wave. The city will apply the same measures in municipal buildings and asked private partners to follow.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted guidance on social media Wednesday afternoon directing residents to set air conditioners to 78 degrees and limit non-essential electricity use. The post stated the city would maintain the same 78-degree setting in municipal buildings, dim lights during peak demand, and ask private partners to follow suit.
Mamdani wrote that easing demand would help keep air conditioning operational and protect lives.
Temperatures across much of the Midwest and East are forecast to reach or exceed 100 degrees through the holiday weekend. The New York ISO issued an early energy warning during the period. Mamdani issued a follow-up statement Thursday afternoon reiterating that the grid remained stable with adequate resources.
Sen. Rand Paul said the remarks showed communism was alive and well. Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote that socialist Democrats were coming for air conditioning. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis questioned whether the advice reflected the warmth of collectivism.
The U.S. Department of Energy had recommended a 75-78 degree range for energy efficiency on its website earlier Thursday before the guidance was removed. The Florida Public Service Commission issued a similar 78-degree recommendation for summer months as recently as June.
