A method for controlling load capacity in an air conditioning unit comprising the steps of initializing a saturated condensing temperature upper bound (SCT_UP), comparing a saturated condensing temperature (SCT) to a maximum condensing temperature threshold (MCT_TH), unloading a single load capacity step, allowing the air conditioning unit to stabilize, and setting the SCT_UP equal to the SCT after the unloading, and increasing the load capacity by one capacity step if increased load capacity is required, the SCT is less than or equal to the MCT_TH, and the SCTthe SCT_UP.