AC running cost in Arizona
A typical 2,000 sq ft Arizona home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 3,465 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $535, peaking in Jul at about $121.
At a glance
Arizona ranks 2nd of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (15.44¢/kWh) is 15% lower than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 25th highest. Its climate brings 3,063 cooling degree days a year (2nd most), so cooling demand is 179% higher than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 23% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs Apr–Oct.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $535 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 15.44¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 15.38¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 3,063 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $119 |
Utilities with verified rates on this site: SRP (Salt River Project) (Phoenix page), APS (Arizona Public Service) (Phoenix page).
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 |
| New Mexico | 15.08¢ | 1,004 | $171 |
| Utah | 13.16¢ | 538 | $80 |
| Colorado | 16.72¢ | 329 | $62 |
Same home (2,000 sq ft, average insulation, 14 SEER2) in each state.
Month by month
| Month | CDD | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | 3 | $0 |
| Feb | 11 | 12 | $2 |
| Mar | 43 | 49 | $8 |
| Apr | 115 | 130 | $20 |
| May | 294 | 333 | $51 |
| Jun | 545 | 617 | $95 |
| Jul ★ | 693 | 784 | $121 |
| Aug | 656 | 743 | $115 |
| Sep | 478 | 540 | $83 |
| Oct | 194 | 219 | $34 |
| Nov | 31 | 35 | $5 |
| Dec | 0 | 0 | $0 |
★ peak month.
Yearly cooling cost by home size and SEER2
| Home | 13 SEER2 | 14 SEER2 | 16 SEER2 | 18 SEER2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $346 | $321 | $281 | $250 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $461 | $428 | $375 | $333 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $576 | $535 | $468 | $416 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $720 | $669 | $585 | $520 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $864 | $803 | $702 | $624 |
Average insulation; 15.44¢/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.