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

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Portable Air Conditioner in Utah?

The short answer

Running a 1,200W portable air conditioner in Utah costs about $0.16 an hour. At 8 hours a day, that’s roughly $38.31 a month and $460 a year.

Utah’s average residential rate was 13.1¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 28% below the US average.

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

Portable Air Conditioner cost by daily use in Utah

Cost at 13.1¢/kWh, the Utah average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 36.5 $0.16 $4.79 $57.47
2 hours/day 73.0 $0.31 $9.58 $115
4 hours/day 146.0 $0.63 $19.16 $230
8 hours/day 292.0 $1.26 $38.31 $460
12 hours/day 438.0 $1.89 $57.47 $690
24 hours/day 876.1 $3.78 $115 $1,379

Utah vs other states

At typical use, a portable air conditioner costs $460 a year in Utah — $1,222 less than in Hawaii and $14.02 more than in Louisiana.

Utah has the 3rd-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Utah price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Utah

13.1¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▼ −2.5% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a portable air conditioner

A portable AC sits inside the room and vents hot air through a hose, which makes it convenient but less efficient than a window unit: some of the heat it removes leaks back in, and single-hose models pull warm outside air into the room. A common 10,000–12,000 BTU portable unit draws around 1,000–1,300W. Dual-hose models are more efficient in hot climates.

  • Keep the exhaust hose as short and straight as possible, and insulate it if it gets hot.
  • Choose a dual-hose model for rooms you cool every day.
  • Close blinds on sun-facing windows during the hottest hours.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a portable air conditioner for 24 hours in Utah?

Running a 1,200W portable air conditioner for 24 hours uses about 28.8 kWh, which costs about $3.78 at Utah’s average rate of 13.1¢/kWh.

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

At 8 hours a day, a typical portable air conditioner uses about 292 kWh a month. In Utah that costs $38.31.

Is it expensive to run a portable air conditioner in Utah?

Utah has the 3rd-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 13.1¢/kWh — one of the cheapest. Running a portable air conditioner here costs about $460 a year at typical use, compared with $642 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Utah right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Utah was 13.1¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — down 2.5% from a year earlier.

Do portable air conditioners use a lot of electricity?

They use about as much as a space heater — typically 800–1,500W — and more than a window AC of the same capacity because they are less efficient.

Portable Air Conditioner costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method