Republicans Rage at Mamdani’s 78-Degree AC Advice, Then Trump’s Energy Department Recommends the Same Thing.

The U.S. Department of Energy still recommended a daytime thermostat range of 75 to 78 degrees on Friday, July 10, days after Republicans attacked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for urging residents to use the same upper setting during a dangerous heat wave.

Mamdani issued the request in New York on Wednesday, July 1, as intense heat pushed electricity use toward levels not seen in more than a decade. He asked residents and businesses to set air conditioners to 78 degrees, turn off unused lights, and reduce nonessential power use during peak hours.

Federal Advice Mirrors Mamdani’s Request

The Department of Energy’s federal home cooling guidance tells households to keep thermostats as high as comfortably possible during summer. It suggests starting at 75-78 degrees during the day, then raising the setting when nobody is home.

The guidance is voluntary. The request was framed as temporary help during the most demanding afternoon hours. Mamdani’s appeal carried no fines, inspections or enforcement mechanism for private homes.

City buildings were directed to stay at 78 degrees, dim lights, and shut down nonessential equipment. Officials asked businesses to follow the same setting when safe and practical.

Republican Leaders Target the Mayor

The request quickly became a national political fight because Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist. Several Republican officials portrayed the temporary conservation appeal as government interference with household cooling.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky described the request as proof that socialism remained active. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida called it communism, while Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina warned that Democrats were coming for Americans’ air conditioning.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas argued that people in a developed country should not hesitate to run their air conditioners. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina described the advice as an attack on women experiencing menopause.

Grid Alert Preceded Conservation Push

The New York Independent System Operator issued an Energy Watch on Thursday, July 2, after grid reserves had declined. The alert signaled tighter backup capacity but did not mean controlled outages were underway.

The operator said the statewide system remained stable and had enough electricity to meet expected demand. It also asked consumers to raise thermostat settings and delay unnecessary use of major appliances.

The watch ended later that day after conditions improved. No mandatory restrictions or rotating outages were ordered.

Before the peak, the grid operator forecast demand of about 32,410 megawatts. That was less than 5% below New York’s record of 33,956 megawatts, reached during a July 2013 heat wave.

City Added Cooling Centers

The thermostat appeal formed one part of a larger emergency response. The city expanded emergency protections as forecasts warned that the heat index could reach about 112 degrees.

Officials activated hundreds of cooling centers across all five boroughs. They opened additional libraries and municipal buildings, extended outdoor pool hours, and placed directions to nearby cooling sites on more than 2,200 LinkNYC kiosks.

The city deployed 21 mobile cooling vans staffed by medical providers. The vans offered water, electrolytes, meals, sunscreen, transportation, and wellness checks for older residents.

An additional 150 volunteers increased the street-outreach workforce to more than 600 people. Teams focused on homeless residents, older adults, and others facing greater danger from prolonged heat.

Mamdani described air conditioning as the strongest protection against extreme heat. Residents without reliable cooling were urged to use public cooling centers or another air-conditioned location.

Similar Requests Cross Party Lines

Energy conservation appeals are common in states led by both parties. Texas grid authorities have asked residents to raise thermostats, postpone appliance use, and unplug unnecessary equipment during periods of tight supply.

Such requests do not require every household to tolerate an unsafe temperature. Older adults, people with chronic illnesses, pregnant residents, and young children may need cooler spaces.

The goal is to reduce peak electricity demand. Small changes across thousands of homes, offices, and stores can preserve backup capacity and reduce the risk of outages.

The federal recommendation also allows households to choose a comfortable temperature. It presents 75 to 78 degrees as a starting range, not a national requirement.

Heat Strained Eastern Power Systems

The dispute unfolded during a broad heat wave across the central and eastern United States. More than 185 million people received alerts as heat indices approached 115 degrees in several areas.

PJM Interconnection, the country’s largest regional grid operator, activated emergency conservation measures as generator outages and heavy air-conditioning demand strained the system. It serves about 67 million people.

In New York, roughly 17,000 customers lacked power by late Friday, July 3. Utilities urged customers in New York City and Westchester County to conserve electricity.

The heat also forced cities to cancel or postpone Fourth of July parades, concerts, and public events. Washington reached 101 degrees, and Philadelphia tied a 103-degree record one day earlier.

By July 10, New York’s grid alert had ended, and the city’s holiday emergency measures had expired. The Energy Department’s cooling page still listed the same 75- to 78-degree daytime range that fueled the political dispute.