WattCost

Data through April 2026

Running cost · Refrigerators · ENERGY STAR certified

RCA EFR331

Running around the clock, the RCA EFR331 uses a certified 197 kWh per year — about $37 at the U.S. average rate, or $3.09 a month, the equivalent of a steady 22-watt draw. Only a handful of certified compact refrigerators do better: it ranks 83 of 1589 and undercuts the median by 20%. The same unit costs $24 a year in North Dakota but $92 in Hawaii — electricity rates, not the appliance, make the difference.

Estimated annual running cost · U.S. average rate 18.8¢/kWh

$37/yr

$7.91 · cheapest certified refrigerators$152 · priciest
Per month
$3.09
Per day
10¢
Certified use
197 kWh/yr
Configuration
Compact Refrigerator
Total capacity
3.2 cu ft
Defrost
Manual
Ice maker
No
Through-door dispenser
No
42 kWh805 kWh
Where the RCA EFR331 (▮) sits among all 4,229 certified refrigerators, by annual kWh

What it costs in every state

RCA EFR331: 197 kWh/yr × each state's average residential rate (EIA)
StateRate ¢/kWhThis model $/yrRelative cost
Alabama17.4¢$34
Alaska27.4¢$54
Arizona15.5¢$30
Arkansas14.2¢$28
California35.3¢$69
Colorado16.5¢$33
Connecticut32.2¢$64
Delaware18.8¢$37
District of Columbia25.4¢$50
Florida15.4¢$30
Georgia15.4¢$30
Hawaiipriciest46.6¢$92
Idaho12.7¢$25
Illinois20.5¢$40
Indiana17.9¢$35
Iowa13.9¢$27
Kansas15.8¢$31
Kentucky15.0¢$30
Louisiana14.4¢$28
Maine28.4¢$56
Maryland22.1¢$43
Massachusetts29.4¢$58
Michigan21.4¢$42
Minnesota16.4¢$32
Mississippi16.8¢$33
Missouri14.0¢$28
Montana13.9¢$27
Nebraska13.3¢$26
Nevada14.3¢$28
New Hampshire27.2¢$54
New Jersey23.5¢$46
New Mexico15.2¢$30
New York29.4¢$58
North Carolina16.3¢$32
North Dakotacheapest12.3¢$24
Ohio19.5¢$38
Oklahoma13.3¢$26
Oregon15.8¢$31
Pennsylvania21.5¢$42
Rhode Island28.3¢$56
South Carolina17.1¢$34
South Dakota14.5¢$29
Tennessee14.9¢$29
Texas17.0¢$33
Utah13.3¢$26
Vermont24.6¢$48
Virginia17.4¢$34
Washington14.4¢$28
West Virginia16.1¢$32
Wisconsin19.2¢$38
Wyoming14.7¢$29

Certified models closest in efficiency

compact refrigerators within reach of 197 kWh/yr
ModelkWh/yr$/yr (US avg)
FRIGIAIRE EFR331197$37
Frigidaire EFR323197$37
Frigidaire EFR331-B-BLACK197$37
Frigidaire EFR331-B-BLACK-COM197$37
Frigidaire EFR331-B-WHITE197$37
Frigidaire EFR331-B-WHITE-COM197$37

Run your own numbers

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
10¢
Per month
$3.09
Per year
$37

197 kWh/yr × 18.8¢/kWh = $37/yr

Prefilled with this model's certified 197 kWh/yr — adjust if your usage differs from the DOE test basis. The certified annual kWh comes from the DOE test procedure, which measures continuous 24/7 operation at standardized temperatures — refrigerators never get a day off.

Questions, answered with the data

How much electricity does the RCA EFR331 use?
ENERGY STAR certifies the RCA EFR331 at 197 kWh per year. The certified annual kWh comes from the DOE test procedure, which measures continuous 24/7 operation at standardized temperatures — refrigerators never get a day off.
How much does the RCA EFR331 cost to run per month?
About $3.09 a month at the U.S. average residential rate (18.8¢/kWh) — 10¢ a day, or $37 a year. Your state's rate moves this up or down; see the table above.
Is the RCA EFR331 energy efficient?
It uses 20% less electricity than the median certified compact refrigerator, placing it in the top 10% of certified models.
What does the RCA EFR331 cost to run in the cheapest vs. priciest state?
At current residential rates it costs about $24 a year in North Dakota (12.3¢/kWh) and $92 in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh).
How many watts does the RCA EFR331 draw on average?
Spread over a year of continuous operation, 197 kWh works out to an average draw of about 22 watts — like leaving a 22-watt bulb on 24/7.

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