Is electricity expensive in Kentucky?

Kentucky's residential average of 14.3¢/kWh is 22% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 8 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

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

Among currently certified models, the Brothers 102372 costs the least at about $37 a year at Kentucky rates (260 kWh/yr).

How does Kentucky compare with other states?

The same median room air conditioner costs $70 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $280 in Hawaii (the priciest). Kentucky sits at $76.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · Kentucky · 14.3¢/kWh residential average

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

$76/yr · median certified model

Residential electricity in Kentucky runs 14.3¢/kWh — 22% under the U.S. average — putting the median certified room air conditioner at about $76 a year, versus $98 nationally.

Kentucky ranks 8 of 51 jurisdictions for room air conditioner running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Kentucky rates the most efficient certified model (Brothers 102372) costs $37 a year while the most power-hungry (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) costs $299 — a spread of $262 every year. For reference, the national extremes are Nevada (13.1¢/kWh) and Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh); the same median room air conditioner would cost $70 and $280 a year there.

Kentucky

$76

US average

$98

Nevada

$70

Hawaii

$280

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

The cheapest room air conditioners to run at Kentucky rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 14.3¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in KY
1	Brothers 102372	260	$37
2	Midea MWEUWA-05CRFN8-BCN4	260	$37
3	Vissani VAW05V1KWT	260	$37
4	TCL T05WV9M	274	$39
5	TCL T05WV9MB	274	$39
6	TCL T05WV9R	274	$39
7	TCL T05WV9RB	274	$39
8	TCL W5WC72	274	$39
9	TCL W5WC72-B	274	$39
10	TCL W5WC72M	274	$39

Price any model at Kentucky rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 21¢
Per month: $6.32
Per year: $76

532 kWh/yr × 14.3¢/kWh = $76/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 Kentucky?: About $76 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at Kentucky's average residential rate of 14.3¢/kWh — that's $6.32 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Kentucky?: Kentucky's residential average of 14.3¢/kWh is 22% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 8 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in Kentucky?: Among currently certified models, the Brothers 102372 costs the least at about $37 a year at Kentucky rates (260 kWh/yr).
How does Kentucky compare with other states?: The same median room air conditioner costs $70 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $280 in Hawaii (the priciest). Kentucky sits at $76.

Keep digging

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