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

Cooling · Vermont

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

The short answer

In Vermont, a central air conditioner drawing 3,500W costs about $0.83 per hour — roughly $202 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.

Vermont’s average residential rate was 23.8¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 30% above the US average.

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

Central Air Conditioner cost by daily use in Vermont

Cost at 23.8¢/kWh, the Vermont average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 106.5 $0.83 $25.29 $303
2 hours/day 212.9 $1.66 $50.57 $607
4 hours/day 425.9 $3.33 $101 $1,214
8 hours/day 851.8 $6.65 $202 $2,427
12 hours/day 1,277.6 $9.98 $303 $3,641
24 hours/day 2,555.3 $19.95 $607 $7,282

Vermont vs other states

At typical use, a central air conditioner costs $2,427 a year in Vermont — $2,478 less than in Hawaii and $1,127 more than in Louisiana.

Vermont has the 12th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Vermont electricity rates · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Vermont

23.8¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +7.3% 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 Vermont 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 Vermont?

Running a 3,500W central air conditioner for 24 hours uses about 84.0 kWh, which costs about $19.95 at Vermont’s average rate of 23.8¢/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 Vermont that costs $202.

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

Vermont has the 12th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 23.8¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a central air conditioner here costs about $2,427 a year at typical use, compared with $1,871 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Vermont right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Vermont was 23.8¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 7.3% 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