AC running cost in Virginia
A typical 2,000 sq ft Virginia home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 1,278 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $215, peaking in Jul at about $68.
At a glance
Virginia ranks 19th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (16.83¢/kWh) is 7% lower than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 18th highest. Its climate brings 1,129 cooling degree days a year (19th most), so cooling demand is 3% higher than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 32% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs May–Sep.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $215 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 16.83¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 17.55¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 1,129 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $48 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Virginia 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 |
| North Carolina | 14.94¢ | 1,472 | $249 |
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | 1,416 | $222 |
| Virginia | 16.83¢ | 1,129 | $215 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | 1,228 | $198 |
| 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 | 3 | 3 | $1 |
| Apr | 6 | 6 | $1 |
| May | 77 | 87 | $15 |
| Jun | 225 | 254 | $43 |
| Jul ★ | 356 | 403 | $68 |
| Aug | 305 | 345 | $58 |
| Sep | 138 | 157 | $26 |
| Oct | 18 | 21 | $4 |
| Nov | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Dec | 0 | 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 | $139 | $129 | $113 | $100 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $185 | $172 | $151 | $134 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $232 | $215 | $188 | $167 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $289 | $269 | $235 | $209 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $347 | $323 | $282 | $251 |
Average insulation; 16.83¢/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.