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

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator in Idaho?

The short answer

A typical 150W refrigerator uses about 1.26 kWh a day, which costs $0.17 a day in Idaho — about $5.26 a month or $63.14 a year.

Idaho’s average residential rate was 13.7¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 25% below the US average.

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

Refrigerator cost by size and efficiency in Idaho

Cost at 13.7¢/kWh, the Idaho average (EIA, Jul 2026)
ModelkWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
Efficient (100W) 25.6 $0.12 $3.51 $42.10
Typical (150W) 38.3 $0.17 $5.26 $63.14
Older / large (250W) 63.9 $0.29 $8.77 $105

Idaho vs other states

At typical use, a refrigerator costs $63.14 a year in Idaho — $158 less than in Hawaii and $4.64 more than in Louisiana.

Idaho has the 6th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Idaho · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Idaho

13.7¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.8% 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 Idaho?

A typical 150W refrigerator uses about 460 kWh a year, which costs about $63.14 at Idaho’s average rate of 13.7¢/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 Idaho that costs $5.26.

Is it expensive to run a refrigerator in Idaho?

Idaho has the 6th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 13.7¢/kWh — one of the cheapest. Running a refrigerator here costs about $63.14 a year at typical use, compared with $84.21 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Idaho right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Idaho was 13.7¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.8% 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

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method