What does it cost to run an AC in Washington?
At Washington’s average electricity rate of 13.8¢/kWh, a typical 12,000 BTU air conditioner (EER 11, run 8 hours a day) costs about 15.1¢ an hour, $36 a month, or roughly $181 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 Washington
Washington homes pay about 13.8¢/kWh, which is 4.6¢ below the US average. Because the electricity rate is a straight multiplier on every kilowatt-hour your air conditioner uses, that puts Washington among the cheaper states for cooling costs. The biggest levers you control are the hours you run it and the unit’s efficiency.
Washington electricity price trend
Average residential rate, monthly, May 2023 – Apr 2026. Up 29% over the period.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electric Power Monthly · range 10.98–14.4¢/kWh
A worked example for Washington
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 Washington with our Washington solar payback calculator, or check your EV charging cost too.