WattCost

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Illinois · 20.5¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run a refrigerator in Illinois?

$71/yr · median certified model

Illinois's residential rate of 20.5¢/kWh tracks the national average (18.8¢) closely, so national cost figures translate almost directly: a median certified refrigerator runs about $71 a year here.

Illinois ranks 36 of 51 jurisdictions for refrigerator running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Illinois rates the most efficient certified model (Fisher & Paykel RS2435V2) costs $8.60 a year while the most power-hungry (Jenn-Air JS48PPDUDE) costs $165 — a spread of $156 every year. For reference, the national extremes are North Dakota (12.3¢/kWh) and Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh); the same median refrigerator would cost $43 and $161 a year there.

Illinois
$71
US average
$65
North Dakota
$43
Hawaii
$161
Median certified refrigerator (345 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

The cheapest refrigerators to run at Illinois rates

Price any model at Illinois rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
19¢
Per month
$5.89
Per year
$71

345 kWh/yr × 20.5¢/kWh = $71/yr

Prefilled with the median certified refrigerator (345 kWh/yr). Every model page on this site carries its exact certified figure.

Questions, answered with the data

How much does it cost to run a refrigerator in Illinois?
About $71 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator, at Illinois's average residential rate of 20.5¢/kWh — that's $5.89 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Illinois?
Illinois's residential average of 20.5¢/kWh is 9% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 36 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest refrigerator to run in Illinois?
Among currently certified models, the Fisher & Paykel RS2435V2 costs the least at about $8.60 a year at Illinois rates (42 kWh/yr).
How does Illinois compare with other states?
The same median refrigerator costs $43 a year in North Dakota (the cheapest state) and $161 in Hawaii (the priciest). Illinois sits at $71.

Keep digging

Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.