Kitchen · California
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator in California?
The short answer
Running a refrigerator around the clock in California costs about $12.88 a month ($0.42 a day), based on a typical 150W unit using 1.26 kWh a day.
The estimate uses California’s average residential electricity price of 33.6¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 84% above the national average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Refrigerator cost by size and efficiency in California
| Model | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient (100W) | 25.6 | $0.28 | $8.59 | $103 |
| Typical (150W) | 38.3 | $0.42 | $12.88 | $155 |
| Older / large (250W) | 63.9 | $0.71 | $21.47 | $258 |
California vs other states
At typical use, a refrigerator costs $155 a year in California — $66.18 less than in Hawaii and $96.07 more than in Louisiana.
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. California price per kWh · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in California
33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a refrigerator
Your refrigerator is one of the few appliances that never turns off, but it doesn't draw its rated wattage all day. The compressor cycles on and off to hold temperature, running roughly 30–40% of the time in a typical kitchen. That is why we apply a duty cycle: a 150W fridge at 35% uses about 1.26 kWh a day. Older refrigerators (pre-2001) and second fridges in hot garages can use two to three times more.
- Set the fridge to 37–40°F and the freezer to 0°F — colder settings waste energy.
- Vacuum the condenser coils once or twice a year.
- Retire an old second fridge in the garage — it can cost more per year than a new one.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does a refrigerator cost to run per year in California?
A typical 150W refrigerator uses about 460 kWh a year, which costs about $155 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a refrigerator use per month?
At running 24/7, a typical refrigerator uses about 38.3 kWh a month. In California that costs $12.88.
Is it expensive to run a refrigerator in California?
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a refrigerator here costs about $155 a year at typical use, compared with $84.21 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in California right now?
The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% from a year earlier.
How many kWh does a refrigerator use per day?
A modern full-size refrigerator typically uses 1–1.7 kWh per day (about 400–600 kWh per year). Older models can use 3 kWh or more per day.
Refrigerator costs in nearby states
Other appliances in California
Cheapest and priciest states
Comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Default usage for refrigerator: running 24/7, 35% duty cycle. Typical power 150W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).