AC running cost in Washington
A typical 2,000 sq ft Washington home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 207 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $30, peaking in Jul at about $12.
At a glance
Washington ranks 48th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (14.4¢/kWh) is 21% lower than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 34th highest. Its climate brings 183 cooling degree days a year (48th most), so cooling demand is 83% 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) | $30 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 14.4¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 14.71¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 183 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $7 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.96¢ | 489 | $72 |
| Oregon | 15.4¢ | 232 | $40 |
| Washington | 14.4¢ | 183 | $30 |
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 | 3 | 3 | $0 |
| Jun | 16 | 18 | $3 |
| Jul ★ | 74 | 84 | $12 |
| Aug | 73 | 83 | $12 |
| Sep | 16 | 19 | $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 | $19 | $18 | $16 | $14 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $26 | $24 | $21 | $19 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $32 | $30 | $26 | $23 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $40 | $37 | $33 | $29 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $48 | $45 | $39 | $35 |
Average insulation; 14.4¢/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.