AC running cost in Maine
A typical 2,000 sq ft Maine home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 269 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $81, peaking in Jul at about $39.
At a glance
Maine ranks 39th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (29.99¢/kWh) is 65% higher than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 3rd highest. Its climate brings 238 cooling degree days a year (44th most), so cooling demand is 78% lower than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 48% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs Jun–Aug.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $81 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 29.99¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 32.41¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 238 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $18 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Maine 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 Hampshire | 26.79¢ | 299 | $91 |
| Maine | 29.99¢ | 238 | $81 |
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 | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| Jun | 21 | 23 | $7 |
| Jul ★ | 114 | 129 | $39 |
| Aug | 94 | 106 | $32 |
| Sep | 9 | 10 | $3 |
| Oct | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| 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 | $52 | $48 | $42 | $38 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $70 | $65 | $57 | $50 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $87 | $81 | $71 | $63 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $109 | $101 | $88 | $79 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $131 | $121 | $106 | $94 |
Average insulation; 29.99¢/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.