AC running cost in Pennsylvania
A typical 2,000 sq ft Pennsylvania home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 799 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $168, peaking in Jul at about $61.
At a glance
Pennsylvania ranks 29th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (21.04¢/kWh) is 16% higher than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 12th highest. Its climate brings 706 cooling degree days a year (29th most), so cooling demand is 36% 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) | $168 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 21.04¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 21.72¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 706 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $37 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 21.3¢ | 1,140 | $275 |
| New Jersey | 23.98¢ | 859 | $233 |
| Delaware | 17.86¢ | 1,141 | $231 |
| New York | 29.38¢ | 618 | $206 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.04¢ | 706 | $168 |
| 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 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Mar | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Apr | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| May | 38 | 43 | $9 |
| Jun | 134 | 151 | $32 |
| Jul ★ | 256 | 289 | $61 |
| Aug | 208 | 235 | $50 |
| Sep | 66 | 75 | $16 |
| Oct | 4 | 4 | $1 |
| 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 | $109 | $101 | $88 | $78 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $145 | $134 | $118 | $105 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $181 | $168 | $147 | $131 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $226 | $210 | $184 | $163 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $271 | $252 | $221 | $196 |
Average insulation; 21.04¢/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.