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

Cooling · North Dakota

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

The short answer

In North Dakota, a central air conditioner drawing 3,500W costs about $0.47 per hour — roughly $114 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.

North Dakota’s average residential rate was 13.4¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 27% below the US average.

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

Central Air Conditioner cost by daily use in North Dakota

Cost at 13.4¢/kWh, the North Dakota average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 106.5 $0.47 $14.28 $171
2 hours/day 212.9 $0.94 $28.56 $343
4 hours/day 425.9 $1.88 $57.11 $685
8 hours/day 851.8 $3.75 $114 $1,371
12 hours/day 1,277.6 $5.63 $171 $2,056
24 hours/day 2,555.3 $11.26 $343 $4,112

North Dakota vs other states

At typical use, a central air conditioner costs $1,371 a year in North Dakota — $3,535 less than in Hawaii and $70.52 more than in Louisiana.

North Dakota has the 4th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. North Dakota electricity rates · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in North Dakota

13.4¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +0.8% 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.
  • Summers in North Dakota are relatively mild, so cooling costs are concentrated in a few hot weeks each year.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

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

Running a 3,500W central air conditioner for 24 hours uses about 84.0 kWh, which costs about $11.26 at North Dakota’s average rate of 13.4¢/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 North Dakota that costs $114.

Is it expensive to run a central air conditioner in North Dakota?

North Dakota has the 4th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 13.4¢/kWh — one of the cheapest. Running a central air conditioner here costs about $1,371 a year at typical use, compared with $1,871 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in North Dakota right now?

The average residential electricity rate in North Dakota was 13.4¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 0.8% 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