India, July 3 -- As New York City battles its worst heatwave since 2012, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has asked residents and businesses to set their air conditioners to 78degF (25.5degC), avoid using major appliances during peak hours and reduce electricity consumption to ease pressure on the city's power grid. The appeal followed a warning from Con Edison, which said heavy electricity demand between 2pm and 10pm could strain the grid and lead to localised outages. The utility urged customers to conserve power during peak hours, while the mayor said government buildings would also keep thermostats at 25.5degC. The request was part of the city's wider heat emergency response, which included hundreds of cooling centres, cooling vans, extended public pool hours and other measures for vulnerable residents. The appeal quickly drew criticism online, with many saying 25.5degC was too warm to keep homes comfortable during the heatwave. Others questioned why residents were being asked to cut power use while Times Square's illuminated billboards remained on. By July 1, however, some of the iconic displays had also been dimmed as authorities stepped up conservation efforts during the heatwave. The debate also highlighted concerns for vulnerable residents. A 2025 report by the New York City Comptroller warned that rising electricity costs have left many households "energy insecure", forcing some to limit air-conditioner use during extreme heat. Public health experts say older adults are among those most at risk of heat-related illness, raising concerns that higher thermostat settings could further increase health risks.HTC...