How much does it cost to run an air conditioner in California?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A 3-ton central air conditioner in California costs about $117.87 in August and $458 a year at 32.58¢/kWh; an 8,000 BTU window unit about $24.59 in August.

California pays 32.58¢/kWh on average for Jan–Aug 2026 — 79% above the U.S. average of 18.19¢, the 2nd most expensive of the 50 states and DC.
California averages 905 cooling degree days a year against 1,216 nationally (NOAA), so we estimate 558 full-load cooling hours — 4.6 a day in August.
A new 3-ton split system sold for California must reach at least SEER2 14.3 (DOE southwest region); it draws about 2.52 kW on average and $0.82 an hour.
Moving up to the ENERGY STAR average of about SEER2 17 would cut the yearly bill to $385 — $72.71 a year less.
The average California home used 480 kWh a month in 2025; this system adds 362 kWh in August.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your air conditioner

Type

Size

1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h. It's in the outdoor unit's model number: 24 = 2 ton, 36 = 3 ton, 48 = 4 ton.

Efficiency (SEER2)

Exact SEER2

New split systems sold for California must be at least SEER2 14.3. SEER2 is on the EnergyGuide label or AHRI certificate.

How much it runs

Run time

558 full-load hours a year: DOE's 750-hour national basis × 905 cooling degree days in California ÷ 1,216 U.S.

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

3-ton central AC in August

$117.87a month

$458 a year (1,405 kWh) · $0.82 per hour running

At 32.58¢/kWh — California average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA). That is 79% above the U.S. average of 18.19¢.

Per hour running: $0.822.52 kW average draw
Busiest month (Aug): 4.6 hfull-load hours a day
Per year: $458558 full-load hours
Capacity: 36,000BTU/hSEER2 14.3

Estimated monthly cost in California

Same use, other efficiency

Yearly cost by efficiency rating
Efficiency	Per year	vs yours
SEER2 13.4 (min · North)	$489	+$30.75
SEER2 14.3 (min · South)	$458	—
SEER2 15.2 (ENERGY STAR)	$431	−$27.11
SEER2 17 (ES average)	$385	−$72.71

On a 95°F afternoon

SEER2 is a season average. At the hottest hours a typical 3-ton system (EER2 11.49) draws about 3.1 kW — $1.02 an hour.

How to cut it

Raise the thermostat a few degrees and run a ceiling fan instead — an ENERGY STAR fan uses about 35 W on high.
Change the filter and keep the outdoor coil clear of leaves and grass so the system moves heat as rated.
Close blinds on sun-facing windows in the afternoon, when cooling hours peak.

Energy budget

1,405 kWh 3-ton central AC — cooling season electricity558 full-load hours at 32.58¢/kWh$458

Estimated total$458

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Compare

Estimated monthly cooling cost in California

Month	Full-load hours	3-ton central	8,000 BTU window
January	2	$1.52	$0.32
February	1	$1.01	$0.21
March	4	$3.54	$0.74
April	14	$11.13	$2.32
May	36	$29.34	$6.12
June	81	$66.27	$13.83
July	141	$115.34	$24.07
August	144	$117.87	$24.59
September	98	$80.43	$16.78
October	33	$27.32	$5.70
November	4	$3.54	$0.74

How this was worked out

DOE's room-AC test assumes 750 full-load hours a year for a typical U.S. home. We scale it by California's population-weighted cooling degree days (905 ÷ 1,216) and spread it over the months the same way: 558 hours a year. Your thermostat setting and insulation move this a lot — switch the calculator to your own hours if you know them.

3 tons = 36,000 BTU/h ÷ SEER2 14.3 = 2,517 W. × 558 h = 1,405 kWh × 32.58¢ = $458.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main air conditioner cost calculator page.

More California electricity costs

States with similar prices

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Sources

Data behind this answer

EIA Electric Power Monthly, Tables 5.6.A & 5.6.B — residential price by state (August 2026) — latest month and Jan–Aug 2026 year-to-date average for every state; preliminary, refreshed monthly · checked October 2026
ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners (dataset) — average CEER by size for window units; 750 hours/yr label basis · checked October 2026
ENERGY STAR certified central AC & heat pumps (dataset) — 3-ton split average SEER2 17.06 / EER2 11.49 / HSPF2 8.44; 12k mini-split SEER2 22.81 · checked October 2026
10 CFR 430.32 — federal energy conservation standards (eCFR) — room AC CEER minimums from 2026-05-26; SEER2 regions; dehumidifier IEF; water heater UEF · checked October 2026
NOAA Climate Prediction Center — population-weighted state degree days — monthly normal heating and cooling degree days by state (base 65°F) · checked October 2026
EIA-861M sales and revenue by state — 2025 average household use and bill per state (U.S. 878 kWh, $151.88 a month) · checked October 2026
EIA Electric Power Monthly technical notes — average price = revenue ÷ sales, including fixed customer charges, fuel adjustments and surcharges · checked October 2026

Short answer

A 3-ton central air conditioner in California costs about $117.87 in August and $458 a year at 32.58¢/kWh; an 8,000 BTU window unit about $24.59 in August.

California pays 32.58¢/kWh on average for Jan–Aug 2026 — 79% above the U.S. average of 18.19¢, the 2nd most expensive of the 50 states and DC.

California averages 905 cooling degree days a year against 1,216 nationally (NOAA), so we estimate 558 full-load cooling hours — 4.6 a day in August.

A new 3-ton split system sold for California must reach at least SEER2 14.3 (DOE southwest region); it draws about 2.52 kW on average and $0.82 an hour.

Moving up to the ENERGY STAR average of about SEER2 17 would cut the yearly bill to $385 — $72.71 a year less.

The average California home used 480 kWh a month in 2025; this system adds 362 kWh in August.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your air conditioner

Type

Size

1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h. It's in the outdoor unit's model number: 24 = 2 ton, 36 = 3 ton, 48 = 4 ton.

Efficiency (SEER2)

Exact SEER2

New split systems sold for California must be at least SEER2 14.3. SEER2 is on the EnergyGuide label or AHRI certificate.

How much it runs

Run time

558 full-load hours a year: DOE's 750-hour national basis × 905 cooling degree days in California ÷ 1,216 U.S.

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

3-ton central AC in August

$117.87a month

$458 a year (1,405 kWh) · $0.82 per hour running

At 32.58¢/kWh — California average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA). That is 79% above the U.S. average of 18.19¢.

Per hour running: $0.822.52 kW average draw
Busiest month (Aug): 4.6 hfull-load hours a day
Per year: $458558 full-load hours
Capacity: 36,000BTU/hSEER2 14.3

Estimated monthly cost in California

Same use, other efficiency

Yearly cost by efficiency rating
Efficiency	Per year	vs yours
SEER2 13.4 (min · North)	$489	+$30.75
SEER2 14.3 (min · South)	$458	—
SEER2 15.2 (ENERGY STAR)	$431	−$27.11
SEER2 17 (ES average)	$385	−$72.71

On a 95°F afternoon

SEER2 is a season average. At the hottest hours a typical 3-ton system (EER2 11.49) draws about 3.1 kW — $1.02 an hour.

How to cut it

Raise the thermostat a few degrees and run a ceiling fan instead — an ENERGY STAR fan uses about 35 W on high.
Change the filter and keep the outdoor coil clear of leaves and grass so the system moves heat as rated.
Close blinds on sun-facing windows in the afternoon, when cooling hours peak.

Energy budget

1,405 kWh 3-ton central AC — cooling season electricity558 full-load hours at 32.58¢/kWh$458

Estimated total$458

Month

Full-load hours

3-ton central

8,000 BTU window

January

$1.52

$0.32

February

$1.01

$0.21

March

$3.54

$0.74

April

$11.13

$2.32

May

$29.34

$6.12

June

$66.27

$13.83

July

141

$115.34

$24.07

August

144

$117.87

$24.59

September

$80.43

$16.78

October

$27.32

$5.70

November

$3.54

$0.74

How this was worked out

3 tons = 36,000 BTU/h ÷ SEER2 14.3 = 2,517 W. × 558 h = 1,405 kWh × 32.58¢ = $458.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main air conditioner cost calculator page.