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

Short answer

A 3-ton central air conditioner in Utah costs about $54.64 in July and $147 a year at 13.19¢/kWh; an 8,000 BTU window unit about $10.68 in July.

• Utah pays 13.19¢/kWh on average for Jan–Aug 2026 — 27% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, the 48th most expensive of the 50 states and DC.
• Utah averages 671 cooling degree days a year against 1,216 nationally (NOAA), so we estimate 414 full-load cooling hours — 5 a day in July.
• A new 3-ton split system sold for Utah must reach at least SEER2 13.4 (DOE northern region); it draws about 2.69 kW on average and $0.35 an hour.
• Moving up to the ENERGY STAR average of about SEER2 17 would cut the yearly bill to $116 — $31.06 a year less.
• The average Utah home used 777 kWh a month in 2025; this system adds 414 kWh in July.