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

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

The short answer

A typical 150W refrigerator uses about 1.26 kWh a day, which costs $0.41 a day in Maine — about $12.42 a month or $149 a year.

Maine’s average residential rate was 32.4¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 77% above the US average.

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

Refrigerator cost by size and efficiency in Maine

Cost at 32.4¢/kWh, the Maine average (EIA, Jul 2026)
ModelkWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
Efficient (100W) 25.6 $0.27 $8.28 $99.37
Typical (150W) 38.3 $0.41 $12.42 $149
Older / large (250W) 63.9 $0.68 $20.70 $248

Maine vs other states

At typical use, a refrigerator costs $149 a year in Maine — $71.70 less than in Hawaii and $90.55 more than in Louisiana.

Maine has the 3rd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Maine price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Maine

32.4¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +15.8% 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 Maine?

A typical 150W refrigerator uses about 460 kWh a year, which costs about $149 at Maine’s average rate of 32.4¢/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 Maine that costs $12.42.

Is it expensive to run a refrigerator in Maine?

Maine has the 3rd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 32.4¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a refrigerator here costs about $149 a year at typical use, compared with $84.21 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Maine right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Maine was 32.4¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 15.8% 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