What does it cost to run an AC in Alabama?
At Alabama’s average electricity rate of 16.4¢/kWh, a typical 12,000 BTU air conditioner (EER 11, run 8 hours a day) costs about 17.9¢ an hour, $43 a month, or roughly $215 across a 5-month cooling season. Run your own numbers below.
Independent estimate for guidance only. Your real cost depends on the unit, thermostat setting, insulation and how hot it gets.
Why AC costs what it does in Alabama
Alabama homes pay about 16.4¢/kWh, which is 2.0¢ below the US average. Because the electricity rate is a straight multiplier on every kilowatt-hour your air conditioner uses, that puts Alabama around the middle for cooling costs. The biggest levers you control are the hours you run it and the unit’s efficiency.
Alabama electricity price trend
Average residential rate, monthly, May 2023 – Apr 2026. Up 20% over the period.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electric Power Monthly · range 14.16–17.41¢/kWh
A worked example for Alabama
A 12,000 BTU unit at EER 11, run 8 hours a day:
Draws about 1091 watts. Change the size, efficiency and hours in the calculator above.
Offset it with solar
Cooling is one of the biggest summer power draws, so it’s exactly what rooftop solar is good at offsetting — the sun is strongest when your AC works hardest. See whether solar pays off in Alabama with our Alabama solar payback calculator, or check your EV charging cost too.