How Much Does It Cost to Run a Central Air Conditioner in Illinois?

Central Air Conditioner cost by daily use in Illinois

Illinois vs other states

At typical use, a central air conditioner costs $1,964 a year in Illinois — $2,941 less than in Hawaii and $664 more than in Louisiana.

Illinois has the 17th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Illinois · all states ranked

How to lower the cost of running a central air conditioner

Central AC is usually the single largest electricity user in a home during summer. Power draw depends on capacity (tons) and efficiency (SEER2 rating): a 3-ton system typically draws 3–4 kW while running. The compressor cycles on and off to hold your thermostat setting, so enter the hours per day it actually runs — on a hot afternoon that can be most of the day, while on a mild day it may be only a few hours.

• Each degree you raise the thermostat in summer saves roughly 3% on cooling.
• Replace the air filter every 1–3 months and keep the outdoor condenser clear of debris.
• Use ceiling fans so you can set the thermostat 3–4°F higher with the same comfort.
• Summers in Illinois are relatively mild, so cooling costs are concentrated in a few hot weeks each year.