AC running cost in California
A typical 2,000 sq ft California home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 1,051 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $349, peaking in Aug at about $99.
At a glance
California ranks 8th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (33.25¢/kWh) is 83% higher than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 1st highest. Its climate brings 929 cooling degree days a year (22nd most), so cooling demand is 15% lower than the 48-state average. Aug is the peak month, carrying about 28% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs May–Oct.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $349 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 33.25¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 33.61¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 929 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $78 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for California yet, so this page uses the EIA statewide average. Your utility's rate may differ, so enter it in the calculator below.
Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B and Table 5.6.A; NOAA NCEI nClimDiv. Statewide averages hide large local differences.
Compared with neighboring states
| State | Price | CDD/yr | Yearly AC cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 15.44¢ | 3,063 | $535 |
| California | 33.25¢ | 929 | $349 |
| Nevada | 13.53¢ | 2,166 | $332 |
| Oregon | 15.4¢ | 232 | $40 |
Same home (2,000 sq ft, average insulation, 14 SEER2) in each state.
Month by month
| Month | CDD | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | 2 | $1 |
| Feb | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| Mar | 4 | 5 | $2 |
| Apr | 13 | 14 | $5 |
| May | 46 | 53 | $17 |
| Jun | 124 | 140 | $46 |
| Jul | 256 | 289 | $96 |
| Aug ★ | 262 | 297 | $99 |
| Sep | 169 | 191 | $64 |
| Oct | 47 | 53 | $18 |
| Nov | 5 | 6 | $2 |
| Dec | 0 | 0 | $0 |
★ peak month.
Thinking about a new system? See AC replacement cost & savings by state and heat pump vs gas furnace in California.
Yearly cooling cost by home size and SEER2
| Home | 13 SEER2 | 14 SEER2 | 16 SEER2 | 18 SEER2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $226 | $210 | $183 | $163 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $301 | $280 | $245 | $217 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $376 | $349 | $306 | $272 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $470 | $437 | $382 | $340 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $564 | $524 | $459 | $408 |
Average insulation; 33.25¢/kWh.
AC monthly running cost calculator
| Month | Cooling degree days | kWh | Cost |
|---|
Price defaults to the state's EIA average residential price (July 2026 YTD); edit it to match your bill. Climate: NOAA state cooling degree days, 1991–2020 average. How this works.