AC running cost in New Jersey
A typical 2,000 sq ft New Jersey home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 972 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $233, peaking in Jul at about $84.
At a glance
New Jersey ranks 16th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (23.98¢/kWh) is 32% higher than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 8th highest. Its climate brings 859 cooling degree days a year (25th most), so cooling demand is 22% lower than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 36% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs May–Sep.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $233 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 23.98¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 25.19¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 859 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $52 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 23.98¢ | 859 | $233 |
| Delaware | 17.86¢ | 1,141 | $231 |
| New York | 29.38¢ | 618 | $206 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.04¢ | 706 | $168 |
Same home (2,000 sq ft, average insulation, 14 SEER2) in each state.
Month by month
| Month | CDD | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Mar | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Apr | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| May | 34 | 39 | $9 |
| Jun | 157 | 178 | $43 |
| Jul ★ | 311 | 352 | $84 |
| Aug | 257 | 291 | $70 |
| Sep | 92 | 104 | $25 |
| Oct | 7 | 8 | $2 |
| Nov | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| 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 New Jersey.
Yearly cooling cost by home size and SEER2
| Home | 13 SEER2 | 14 SEER2 | 16 SEER2 | 18 SEER2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $151 | $140 | $122 | $109 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $201 | $186 | $163 | $145 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $251 | $233 | $204 | $181 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $314 | $291 | $255 | $227 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $377 | $350 | $306 | $272 |
Average insulation; 23.98¢/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.