{"id":357294,"date":"2026-06-12T03:56:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T03:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/357294\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T03:56:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T03:56:19","slug":"ca-weather-does-setting-your-ac-to-78-save-money-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/357294\/","title":{"rendered":"CA weather: Does setting your AC to 78 save money, energy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As parts of California brace for triple-digit temperatures<\/a> and forecasts call for a hotter-than-usual summer<\/a>, many residents are preparing for higher air-conditioning use \u2014 and potentially higher energy bills.<\/p>\n

A heat wave<\/a> is sending temperatures soaring into the triple digits across parts of Northern California and the Central Valley, with highs reaching as much as 102 degrees in Sacramento<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWarmer temperatures could lead to increased electricity usage as customers often increase electricity usage to cool their homes, which could increase their electric bills compared to other times of the year,\u201d Pacific Gas and Electric Co. wrote in a statement to The Sacramento Bee.<\/p>\n

What temperature should you set your thermostat<\/a> to in order to save money?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what California energy experts recommend:<\/p>\n

\"A A man adjusts a home thermostat. Courtney Hale Getty Images What\u2019s the best thermostat setting to save energy?<\/p>\n

According to PG&E, setting your thermostat to 78 degrees<\/a> during hot weather can help reduce cooling costs while keeping your home comfortable.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery degree above 78 represents approximately 2% savings on cooling costs<\/a>,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n

When temperatures climb above 100 degrees, PG&E said, air conditioners are \u201cworking very hard to achieve\u201d cooler indoor temperatures, which can drive up electricity use.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsider using a programmable or smart thermostat, which lets you cool (or heat) your home when energy demand is lower and costs are typically reduced,\u201d the utility company wrote.<\/p>\n

Smart thermostats can save the average California customer $50 to $78 a year, according to PG&E.<\/p>\n

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District also recommends setting thermostats to 78 degrees as the ideal indoor temperature during summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll save around 5% to 10% on cooling costs<\/a> for every two degrees you raise the temperature,\u201d SMUD said.<\/p>\n

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save up to 10% a year on cooling costs by adjusting their thermostat 7 to 10 degrees<\/a> from its normal setting for about eight hours a day.<\/p>\n

What are the best ways to lower summer utility bills?<\/p>\n

In addition to adjusting the thermostat, energy experts recommend reducing electricity use during peak-demand hours, when rates are often highest.<\/p>\n

\u201cElectricity use is highest in the late afternoon and evening,\u201d PG&E said.<\/p>\n

Both PG&E and SMUD said customers should limit energy use between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. through Sept. 30, when summer rates are in effect<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Blocking direct sunlight into your home<\/a> can also help reduce cooling costs.<\/p>\n

Closing blinds, shades and curtains during the hottest part of the day can keep indoor temperatures lower and reduce the strain on your air conditioner, according to SMUD.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunlight passing through windows heats your home and makes your air conditioner work harder<\/a>,\u201d PG&E said.<\/p>\n

\"Setting Setting your thermostat to 78 degrees koinseb\/Getty How can I keep my home cool while saving on costs?<\/p>\n

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, other energy-saving tips<\/a> include:<\/p>\n

Keeping air vents clear, so your system can work efficiently.Using fans to cool your home.Unplug devices when not in use.Cleaning HVAC filters every month during peak cooling or heating seasons.Sealing air leaks by replacing old caulking and adding weatherstripping around windows and doors.Checking insulation and replace any that\u2019s damaged to help keep cool air inside.Do energy-intensive chores, such as washing dishes and laundry, until off-peak hours.Inspecting your equipment often to make sure everything\u2019s working properly.Avoid these common electricity-wasting mistakes<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring hot weather, there are a few common energy myths that can increase energy use and costs,\u201d PG&E said.<\/p>\n

According to PG&E, these include:<\/p>\n

Lowering the thermostat to 60 degrees cools your home faster.Keeping fans running in empty rooms.Devices that are plugged in but turned off don\u2019t use energy.Saving energy requires expensive home upgrades. Have a question about life in California?<\/p>\n

How to California \u2014 a guide to help you live, work and enjoy life in the Golden State, is here to help.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll answer your questions \u2014 big and small \u2014 about state laws, history, culture, recreation and travel.<\/p>\n

Ask your questions in the form below (can\u2019t see it? Click here<\/a>) or email howtocalifornia@mcclatchy.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Loading\u2026<\/p>\n

This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM.<\/p>\n

Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Angela Rodriguez<\/a><\/p>\n

The Modesto Bee<\/p>\n

Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor\u2019s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As parts of California brace for triple-digit temperatures and forecasts call for a hotter-than-usual summer, many residents are…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357295,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[121,123,122],"class_list":["post-357294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sacramento","tag-sacramento","tag-sacramento-headlines","tag-sacramento-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}