Data through April 2026
Running cost · Room Air Conditioners · ENERGY STAR certified
TCL H12W4KW-CA
Under the DOE test basis of 750 hours a year, the TCL H12W4KW-CA draws 600 kWh — about $113 at the U.S. average rate, concentrated in the months you actually run it. Efficiency-wise it's unremarkable in a good way: within 13% of the median certified room air conditioner (rank 276 of 396). Where you live moves the bill from $74 a year in North Dakota to $280 in Hawaii.
Estimated annual running cost · U.S. average rate 18.8¢/kWh
$113/yr
- Per month
- $9.41
- Per day
- 31¢
- Certified use
- 600 kWh/yr
- Cooling capacity
- 12,000 BTU/hr
- CEER
- 15
- Mounting
- Straddles Window
- Variable-speed compressor
- Yes
What it costs in every state
| State | Rate ¢/kWh | This model $/yr | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17.4¢ | $104 | |
| Alaska | 27.4¢ | $164 | |
| Arizona | 15.5¢ | $93 | |
| Arkansas | 14.2¢ | $85 | |
| California | 35.3¢ | $212 | |
| Colorado | 16.5¢ | $99 | |
| Connecticut | 32.2¢ | $193 | |
| Delaware | 18.8¢ | $113 | |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $152 | |
| Florida | 15.4¢ | $92 | |
| Georgia | 15.4¢ | $92 | |
| Hawaiipriciest | 46.6¢ | $280 | |
| Idaho | 12.7¢ | $76 | |
| Illinois | 20.5¢ | $123 | |
| Indiana | 17.9¢ | $107 | |
| Iowa | 13.9¢ | $83 | |
| Kansas | 15.8¢ | $95 | |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $90 | |
| Louisiana | 14.4¢ | $87 | |
| Maine | 28.4¢ | $171 | |
| Maryland | 22.1¢ | $132 | |
| Massachusetts | 29.4¢ | $177 | |
| Michigan | 21.4¢ | $128 | |
| Minnesota | 16.4¢ | $98 | |
| Mississippi | 16.8¢ | $101 | |
| Missouri | 14.0¢ | $84 | |
| Montana | 13.9¢ | $83 | |
| Nebraska | 13.3¢ | $80 | |
| Nevada | 14.3¢ | $86 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.2¢ | $163 | |
| New Jersey | 23.5¢ | $141 | |
| New Mexico | 15.2¢ | $91 | |
| New York | 29.4¢ | $177 | |
| North Carolina | 16.3¢ | $98 | |
| North Dakotacheapest | 12.3¢ | $74 | |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $117 | |
| Oklahoma | 13.3¢ | $80 | |
| Oregon | 15.8¢ | $95 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5¢ | $129 | |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $170 | |
| South Carolina | 17.1¢ | $102 | |
| South Dakota | 14.5¢ | $87 | |
| Tennessee | 14.9¢ | $90 | |
| Texas | 17.0¢ | $102 | |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | $80 | |
| Vermont | 24.6¢ | $147 | |
| Virginia | 17.4¢ | $104 | |
| Washington | 14.4¢ | $86 | |
| West Virginia | 16.1¢ | $96 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.2¢ | $115 | |
| Wyoming | 14.7¢ | $88 |
Certified models closest in efficiency
| Model | kWh/yr | $/yr (US avg) |
|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER BD12NWES | 600 | $113 |
| Century RXTS-121A | 600 | $113 |
| Comfort Aire RXTS-121A | 600 | $113 |
| Danby DAC120ECBIWDB | 600 | $113 |
| DELLA 048-TL-W12KI | 600 | $113 |
| ELEMENT EHWR12BE | 600 | $113 |
Run your own numbers
Your rate, your numbers
- Per day
- 31¢
- Per month
- $9.41
- Per year
- $113
600 kWh/yr × 18.8¢/kWh = $113/yr
Prefilled with this model's certified 600 kWh/yr — adjust if your usage differs from the DOE test basis. The certified annual kWh assumes 750 cooling hours per year (the DOE standard). In hot climates real usage can run well above that; in mild ones, below.
Questions, answered with the data
- How much electricity does the TCL H12W4KW-CA use?
- ENERGY STAR certifies the TCL H12W4KW-CA at 600 kWh per year. The certified annual kWh assumes 750 cooling hours per year (the DOE standard). In hot climates real usage can run well above that; in mild ones, below.
- How much does the TCL H12W4KW-CA cost to run per month?
- About $9.41 a month at the U.S. average residential rate (18.8¢/kWh) — 31¢ a day, or $113 a year. Your state's rate moves this up or down; see the table above.
- Is the TCL H12W4KW-CA energy efficient?
- It uses 13% more electricity than the median certified room air conditioner.
- What does the TCL H12W4KW-CA cost to run in the cheapest vs. priciest state?
- At current residential rates it costs about $74 a year in North Dakota (12.3¢/kWh) and $280 in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh).