AC running cost in Tennessee
A typical 2,000 sq ft Tennessee home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 1,602 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $222, peaking in Jul at about $61.
At a glance
Tennessee ranks 18th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (13.87¢/kWh) is 24% lower than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 40th highest. Its climate brings 1,416 cooling degree days a year (14th most), so cooling demand is 29% higher than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 28% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs May–Sep.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $222 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 13.87¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 13.71¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 1,416 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $49 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 15.19¢ | 2,181 | $375 |
| Alabama | 16.54¢ | 1,947 | $364 |
| Georgia | 15.4¢ | 1,725 | $301 |
| Arkansas | 13.61¢ | 1,764 | $272 |
| North Carolina | 14.94¢ | 1,472 | $249 |
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | 1,416 | $222 |
| Virginia | 16.83¢ | 1,129 | $215 |
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | 1,265 | $200 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | 1,228 | $198 |
Same home (2,000 sq ft, average insulation, 14 SEER2) in each state.
Month by month
| Month | CDD | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | 2 | $0 |
| Feb | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| Mar | 13 | 15 | $2 |
| Apr | 20 | 23 | $3 |
| May | 125 | 141 | $20 |
| Jun | 280 | 317 | $44 |
| Jul ★ | 391 | 442 | $61 |
| Aug | 358 | 405 | $56 |
| Sep | 188 | 213 | $29 |
| Oct | 35 | 39 | $5 |
| Nov | 1 | 2 | $0 |
| Dec | 1 | 1 | $0 |
★ peak month.
Yearly cooling cost by home size and SEER2
| Home | 13 SEER2 | 14 SEER2 | 16 SEER2 | 18 SEER2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $144 | $133 | $117 | $104 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $191 | $178 | $156 | $138 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $239 | $222 | $194 | $173 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $299 | $278 | $243 | $216 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $359 | $333 | $292 | $259 |
Average insulation; 13.87¢/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.