U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated

Cooling · Mississippi

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

The short answer

Running a 3,500W central air conditioner in Mississippi costs about $0.51 an hour. At 8 hours a day, that’s roughly $124 a month and $1,486 a year.

That’s based on Mississippi’s average residential rate of 14.5¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 21% below the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Central Air Conditioner cost by daily use in Mississippi

Cost at 14.5¢/kWh, the Mississippi average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 106.5 $0.51 $15.48 $186
2 hours/day 212.9 $1.02 $30.96 $371
4 hours/day 425.9 $2.04 $61.92 $743
8 hours/day 851.8 $4.07 $124 $1,486
12 hours/day 1,277.6 $6.11 $186 $2,229
24 hours/day 2,555.3 $12.21 $372 $4,458

Mississippi vs other states

At typical use, a central air conditioner costs $1,486 a year in Mississippi — $3,420 less than in Hawaii and $186 more than in Louisiana.

Mississippi has the 12th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Mississippi price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Mississippi

14.5¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +7.1% from a year earlier.

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.
  • Long, hot summers in Mississippi mean cooling equipment can run most of the day from May through September — try 10–12 hours above to see a peak-month cost.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a central air conditioner for 24 hours in Mississippi?

Running a 3,500W central air conditioner for 24 hours uses about 84.0 kWh, which costs about $12.21 at Mississippi’s average rate of 14.5¢/kWh.

How many kWh does a central air conditioner use per month?

At 8 hours a day, a typical central air conditioner uses about 852 kWh a month. In Mississippi that costs $124.

Is it expensive to run a central air conditioner in Mississippi?

Mississippi has the 12th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 14.5¢/kWh — cheaper than most. Running a central air conditioner here costs about $1,486 a year at typical use, compared with $1,871 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Mississippi right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Mississippi was 14.5¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 7.1% from a year earlier.

How many watts does a central air conditioner use?

Most residential central AC systems draw 2,000–5,000W while running; a typical 3-ton system uses about 3,500W.

Sources & method