AC running cost in Rhode Island
A typical 2,000 sq ft Rhode Island home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 637 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $186, peaking in Jul at about $76.
At a glance
Rhode Island ranks 25th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (29.22¢/kWh) is 61% higher than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 5th highest. Its climate brings 563 cooling degree days a year (34th most), so cooling demand is 49% lower than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 41% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs Jun–Sep.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $186 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 29.22¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 28.29¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 563 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $41 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 27.97¢ | 607 | $192 |
| Rhode Island | 29.22¢ | 563 | $186 |
| Massachusetts | 30.14¢ | 516 | $176 |
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 | 8 | 9 | $3 |
| Jun | 80 | 91 | $27 |
| Jul ★ | 231 | 262 | $76 |
| Aug | 196 | 222 | $65 |
| Sep | 46 | 52 | $15 |
| Oct | 1 | 1 | $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 | $120 | $112 | $98 | $87 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $160 | $149 | $130 | $116 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $200 | $186 | $163 | $145 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $251 | $233 | $204 | $181 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $301 | $279 | $244 | $217 |
Average insulation; 29.22¢/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.