AC running cost by state
What It Costs to Run AC in Every State
Each state's average residential electricity rate (July 2026, U.S. Energy Information Administration), and what that means for a typical 3-ton central air conditioner (SEER 14). Pick your state for hourly, monthly and yearly costs by system size.
U.S. average rate
18.31¢/kWh
3-ton AC per hour (U.S. avg)
$0.47
Most / least expensive
Hawaii / Louisiana
Sort by:
| # | State | Rate | 3-ton AC per hour | Typical year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 48.00¢/kWh | $1.23 | $3,703 (3,000 hrs) |
| 2 | California | 33.61¢/kWh | $0.86 | $1,296 (1,500 hrs) |
| 3 | Maine | 32.41¢/kWh | $0.83 | $750 (900 hrs) |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 30.49¢/kWh | $0.78 | $706 (900 hrs) |
| 5 | New York | 29.90¢/kWh | $0.77 | $692 (900 hrs) |
| 6 | Alaska | 28.83¢/kWh | $0.74 | $222 (300 hrs) |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 28.29¢/kWh | $0.73 | $655 (900 hrs) |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 26.60¢/kWh | $0.68 | $616 (900 hrs) |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 25.21¢/kWh | $0.65 | $972 (1,500 hrs) |
| 10 | New Jersey | 25.19¢/kWh | $0.65 | $972 (1,500 hrs) |
| 11 | Connecticut | 24.16¢/kWh | $0.62 | $559 (900 hrs) |
| 12 | Vermont | 23.75¢/kWh | $0.61 | $550 (900 hrs) |
| 13 | Michigan | 23.05¢/kWh | $0.59 | $533 (900 hrs) |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 21.72¢/kWh | $0.56 | $838 (1,500 hrs) |
| 15 | Maryland | 21.41¢/kWh | $0.55 | $826 (1,500 hrs) |
| 16 | Ohio | 19.45¢/kWh | $0.50 | $750 (1,500 hrs) |
| 17 | Illinois | 19.22¢/kWh | $0.49 | $741 (1,500 hrs) |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 19.06¢/kWh | $0.49 | $441 (900 hrs) |
| 19 | Delaware | 18.48¢/kWh | $0.48 | $713 (1,500 hrs) |
| 20 | Virginia | 17.55¢/kWh | $0.45 | $677 (1,500 hrs) |
| 21 | Minnesota | 17.45¢/kWh | $0.45 | $404 (900 hrs) |
| 22 | Colorado | 17.00¢/kWh | $0.44 | $393 (900 hrs) |
| 23 | Indiana | 16.73¢/kWh | $0.43 | $645 (1,500 hrs) |
| 24 | Alabama | 16.40¢/kWh | $0.42 | $928 (2,200 hrs) |
| 25 | Georgia | 16.27¢/kWh | $0.42 | $920 (2,200 hrs) |
| 26 | Missouri | 16.09¢/kWh | $0.41 | $621 (1,500 hrs) |
| 27 | New Mexico | 16.09¢/kWh | $0.41 | $621 (1,500 hrs) |
| 28 | Iowa | 15.99¢/kWh | $0.41 | $617 (1,500 hrs) |
| 29 | Oregon | 15.97¢/kWh | $0.41 | $370 (900 hrs) |
| 30 | Texas | 15.88¢/kWh | $0.41 | $1,225 (3,000 hrs) |
| 31 | West Virginia | 15.78¢/kWh | $0.41 | $609 (1,500 hrs) |
| 32 | South Carolina | 15.47¢/kWh | $0.40 | $875 (2,200 hrs) |
| 33 | Arizona | 15.38¢/kWh | $0.40 | $1,186 (3,000 hrs) |
| 34 | South Dakota | 15.37¢/kWh | $0.40 | $356 (900 hrs) |
| 35 | Kansas | 15.27¢/kWh | $0.39 | $589 (1,500 hrs) |
| 36 | North Carolina | 15.16¢/kWh | $0.39 | $585 (1,500 hrs) |
| 37 | Florida | 15.03¢/kWh | $0.39 | $1,159 (3,000 hrs) |
| 38 | Montana | 14.99¢/kWh | $0.39 | $347 (900 hrs) |
| 39 | Washington | 14.71¢/kWh | $0.38 | $340 (900 hrs) |
| 40 | Mississippi | 14.54¢/kWh | $0.37 | $823 (2,200 hrs) |
| 41 | Wyoming | 14.36¢/kWh | $0.37 | $332 (900 hrs) |
| 42 | Oklahoma | 14.35¢/kWh | $0.37 | $812 (2,200 hrs) |
| 43 | Arkansas | 14.33¢/kWh | $0.37 | $811 (2,200 hrs) |
| 44 | Kentucky | 13.81¢/kWh | $0.36 | $533 (1,500 hrs) |
| 45 | Nebraska | 13.78¢/kWh | $0.35 | $532 (1,500 hrs) |
| 46 | Idaho | 13.73¢/kWh | $0.35 | $318 (900 hrs) |
| 47 | Tennessee | 13.71¢/kWh | $0.35 | $529 (1,500 hrs) |
| 48 | North Dakota | 13.41¢/kWh | $0.34 | $310 (900 hrs) |
| 49 | Utah | 13.12¢/kWh | $0.34 | $506 (1,500 hrs) |
| 50 | Nevada | 12.77¢/kWh | $0.33 | $722 (2,200 hrs) |
| 51 | Louisiana | 12.72¢/kWh | $0.33 | $981 (3,000 hrs) |
"Typical year" uses our estimate of full-power cooling hours for each state's climate, from 300 (Alaska) to 3,000 (the Gulf Coast, Arizona and Hawaii). Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A. Download CSV.
How the numbers work, and how to lower yours: How much does it cost to run an air conditioner?