Is electricity expensive in Idaho?

Idaho's residential average of 12.7¢/kWh is 33% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 2 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in Idaho?

Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $35 a year at Idaho rates (274 kWh/yr).

How does Idaho compare with other states?

The same median room air conditioner costs $66 a year in North Dakota (the cheapest state) and $248 in Hawaii (the priciest). Idaho sits at $68.

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Idaho · 12.7¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in Idaho?

$68/yr · median certified model

Idaho's 12.7¢/kWh rate undercuts the national average by 33%, so the typical certified room air conditioner costs roughly $68 a year here instead of $100.

Out of all 50 states plus D.C., Idaho is the #2 cheapest place to run a room air conditioner. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Idaho rates the most efficient certified model (TCL T05WV9M) costs $35 a year while the most power-hungry (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) costs $266 — a spread of $231 every year. For reference, the national extremes are North Dakota (12.3¢/kWh) and Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh); the same median room air conditioner would cost $66 and $248 a year there.

Idaho

$68

US average

$100

North Dakota

$66

Hawaii

$248

Median certified room air conditioner (532 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

The cheapest room air conditioners to run at Idaho rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 12.7¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in ID
1	TCL T05WV9M	274	$35
2	TCL T05WV9MB	274	$35
3	TCL T05WV9R	274	$35
4	TCL T05WV9RB	274	$35
5	TCL W5WC72	274	$35
6	TCL W5WC72-B	274	$35
7	TCL W5WC72M	274	$35
8	TCL W5WC72M-B	274	$35
9	LG LW6023IVSMmost efficient	290	$37
10	Midea MAW06U1QWTmost efficient	298	$38

Price any model at Idaho rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 19¢
Per month: $5.63
Per year: $68

532 kWh/yr × 12.7¢/kWh = $68/yr

Prefilled with the median certified room air conditioner (532 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 room air conditioner in Idaho?: About $68 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at Idaho's average residential rate of 12.7¢/kWh — that's $5.63 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Idaho?: Idaho's residential average of 12.7¢/kWh is 33% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 2 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in Idaho?: Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $35 a year at Idaho rates (274 kWh/yr).
How does Idaho compare with other states?: The same median room air conditioner costs $66 a year in North Dakota (the cheapest state) and $248 in Hawaii (the priciest). Idaho sits at $68.

Keep digging

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