MUMBAI: The Indian winter appears to be the warmest in Mumbai going by the pattern of electricity consumption through air conditioners and refrigerators. A study by The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) conducted in 2015 on behalf of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency finds that Mumbai’s consumption of power on such cooling appliances (as a percentage of the power usage by a household) is the highest among the households surveyed in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru in both autumn and winter seasons.Over 800 households were surveyed in each of these cities as a part of the study.While experts agree that Mumbai will obviously consume more power than Delhi, where winters are cold and autumns pleasant, they point out that Mumbaikars expend far more energy (and money) on air-conditioners than Kolkata and Bengaluru, where temperature graphs are not so different from Mumbai’s.While in the post-monsoon months Mumbai showed 26.4% power consumption by a refrigerator in an average household, in the winter months it showed 45%, much higher among the four metros (see graphic inside). For air conditioners a, city household showed an average of 19.3% power consumption in autumn while in winter it stood at 7.9%, which is again much higher than the other three cities.Power expert Ashok Pendse said air conditioners were the killer for Mumbai, as against 3,200 MW consumption during summer, it was 1,500 MW even during winter. “Keeping AC temperatures between 24 and 26, servicing it regularly, avoiding excessive use, going for LED and star-rated gadgets, enhancing greenery and avoiding vehicle pollution are the steps required to be taken by Mumbaikars to counter global warming, to which the use of ACs contributes,” he said.A similar study made by BEE through TERI in 2009 had suggested that Mumbaikars’ energy consumption on refrigerators, air conditioners and geysers was more than those living in Delhi, Banglore and Kolkata. The survey had revealed that Mumbai’s consumption was at an all-time high across all four seasons. Among these three gadgets, as per the 2009 study, Mumbai had consumed the most on refrigerators and air conditioners whereas Delhi consumed the highest power on geysers during prolonged winter months, followed by Kolkata.Former chairman of the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission V P Raja said it was a fact that among all domestic appliances, the AC was the highest consumer of electricity in Mumbai with roughly 1,200 MW out of 3,000 MW power supplied. “On a public holiday, Mumbai’s total power consumption drops down to 1,800 from 3,000 due to non-use of ACs in offices and commercial places. Using star-rated gadgets, forcing industry to phase out old inefficient gadgets and reducing vehicle and industrial pollution besides increasing green cover are the methods to fight climate change. Carbon monoxide from machines and gadgets is a killer and its reduction should always be the goal of any reform agenda,” he said.