AC running cost in Kentucky
A typical 2,000 sq ft Kentucky home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 1,389 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $198, peaking in Jul at about $57.
At a glance
Kentucky ranks 22nd of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (14.27¢/kWh) is 22% lower than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 35th highest. Its climate brings 1,228 cooling degree days a year (16th most), so cooling demand is 12% higher than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 29% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs May–Sep.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $198 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 14.27¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 13.81¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 1,228 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $44 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | 1,416 | $222 |
| Virginia | 16.83¢ | 1,129 | $215 |
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | 1,265 | $200 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | 1,228 | $198 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | 889 | $193 |
| Indiana | 17.04¢ | 911 | $176 |
| Ohio | 18.7¢ | 792 | $168 |
| West Virginia | 15.47¢ | 803 | $141 |
Same home (2,000 sq ft, average insulation, 14 SEER2) in each state.
Month by month
| Month | CDD | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Mar | 9 | 10 | $1 |
| Apr | 12 | 13 | $2 |
| May | 106 | 120 | $17 |
| Jun | 246 | 278 | $40 |
| Jul ★ | 355 | 401 | $57 |
| Aug | 320 | 362 | $52 |
| Sep | 156 | 176 | $25 |
| Oct | 22 | 25 | $4 |
| Nov | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| 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 | $128 | $119 | $104 | $92 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $171 | $159 | $139 | $123 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $213 | $198 | $173 | $154 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $267 | $248 | $217 | $193 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $320 | $297 | $260 | $231 |
Average insulation; 14.27¢/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.