Central AC Electricity Calculator in South Carolina

A central ac in South Carolina costs about $143.30 a month ($1743.53 a year) to run at the state's average rate of 17.06 ¢/kWh. Use this calculator to compare light, typical, and heavy use.

South Carolina average rate
17.06 ¢/kWh
Assumed wattage
3,500 W
Typical usage pattern
8 hours/day
Typical monthly cost
$143.30
Typical yearly cost
$1743.53

Key metrics

MetricValue
South Carolina average rate17.06 ¢/kWh
Assumed wattage3,500 W
Typical usage pattern8 hours/day
Typical monthly cost$143.30
Typical yearly cost$1743.53

Central AC in South Carolina vs U.S. benchmark

South Carolina monthly estimate
$143.30
U.S. monthly estimate
$162.29
Difference
-$18.98
State rate
17.06 ¢/kWh

Calculator assumptions

This calculator uses a typical wattage range of 2,000-5,000 W, and we assume 3,500 watts for 8 hours/day. The formula is kWh = (watts × hours) / 1000.

At this profile, the appliance uses 840.0 kWh per month and 10220.0 kWh per year.

Appliance calculator scenarios

ScenarioHours/dayAnnual energySouth Carolina monthlyU.S. monthlySouth Carolina yearly
Light usage4 hours/day5110.0 kWh$71.65$81.14$871.77
Typical usage8 hours/day10220.0 kWh$143.30$162.29$1743.53
Heavy usage12 hours/day15330.0 kWh$214.96$243.43$2615.30

Appliance cost reference page

Want the full write-up? The appliance page below uses the same rate and wattage assumptions:

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Source & Method

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Updated: April 2026. Estimates use the EIA all-in average residential rate — energy, delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees together, not just the electricity itself. Fees are inside the rate, not an extra on top; how your own bill splits fixed versus per-kWh charges varies by utility. For what's inside the all-in rate, see hidden electricity fees; for how rates and estimates are defined, see the methodology hub.

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