Cost to run central air in every state
For a 3-ton (36,000 BTU/h), 14.3 SEER2 system running 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $0.32 | $76.85 | $922.24 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.32 | $77.76 | $933.12 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.34 | $80.42 | $965.02 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.34 | $80.42 | $965.02 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.34 | $80.78 | $969.37 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.34 | $81.08 | $973.00 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.34 | $81.81 | $981.70 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.35 | $83.38 | $1,000.55 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.36 | $86.82 | $1,041.88 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.36 | $87.19 | $1,046.23 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $0.36 | $87.19 | $1,046.23 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $0.37 | $88.39 | $1,060.73 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $0.37 | $89.54 | $1,074.50 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $0.38 | $90.33 | $1,083.93 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $0.38 | $90.57 | $1,086.83 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.38 | $90.93 | $1,091.18 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.38 | $91.54 | $1,098.43 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.39 | $93.47 | $1,121.63 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.39 | $94.07 | $1,128.88 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.40 | $95.22 | $1,142.66 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.40 | $96.07 | $1,152.81 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $0.40 | $96.13 | $1,153.53 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.40 | $96.19 | $1,154.26 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.40 | $96.79 | $1,161.51 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.41 | $98.54 | $1,182.53 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.41 | $98.67 | $1,183.98 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $0.42 | $99.75 | $1,197.03 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $0.43 | $102.83 | $1,234.01 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $0.43 | $103.08 | $1,236.91 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $0.43 | $103.74 | $1,244.89 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $0.43 | $103.92 | $1,247.06 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $0.44 | $106.58 | $1,278.96 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $0.47 | $112.98 | $1,355.82 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $0.49 | $116.73 | $1,400.77 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $0.49 | $117.09 | $1,405.12 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $0.49 | $117.27 | $1,407.29 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $0.54 | $129.30 | $1,551.57 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $0.55 | $131.53 | $1,578.40 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $0.58 | $138.90 | $1,666.86 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $0.60 | $144.04 | $1,728.48 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $0.62 | $148.09 | $1,777.06 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $0.62 | $148.69 | $1,784.31 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $0.65 | $156.97 | $1,883.64 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $0.70 | $167.00 | $2,004.00 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $0.71 | $170.26 | $2,043.15 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $0.72 | $173.10 | $2,077.23 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $0.74 | $177.69 | $2,132.33 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $0.75 | $179.75 | $2,156.98 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $0.77 | $184.16 | $2,209.91 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $0.81 | $194.01 | $2,328.09 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $1.19 | $285.06 | $3,420.71 |
How much homes actually use, by region
Average annual electricity used by central air in homes that have one, from the EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), and what that use costs at today's U.S. average rate. The survey figure covers all air conditioning in the home, including room units and evaporative coolers.
| Region | kWh per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2,318 | $420.95 |
| New England | 1,136 | $206.30 |
| Middle Atlantic | 1,483 | $269.31 |
| East North Central | 1,425 | $258.78 |
| West North Central | 1,728 | $313.80 |
| South Atlantic | 3,112 | $565.14 |
| East South Central | 2,812 | $510.66 |
| West South Central | 3,873 | $703.34 |
| Mountain North | 1,396 | $253.51 |
| Mountain South | 4,276 | $776.52 |
| Pacific | 1,514 | $274.94 |
How the cost is calculated
SEER2 is BTUs of cooling per watt-hour over a season, so BTU/h ÷ SEER2 = average watts while running. A 3-ton (36,000 BTU/h) 14.3 SEER2 system averages about 2.5 kW; 8 hours a day for 30 days is about 600 kWh.
How to lower the cost
- Each degree warmer on the thermostat cuts cooling energy. A smart or programmable thermostat helps you do it automatically when you are out.
- Change the filter regularly and keep the outdoor unit clear of plants and debris.
- Close blinds on sunny windows during the hottest part of the day.
