What does your AC actually cost to run in Las Vegas?
Last checked October 30, 2026
Short answer
On NV Energy's standard rate (about 11.4 cents per kWh as of Oct 1, 2026), a 3 ton, 14.3 SEER2 AC costs about 29 cents an hour to run. Enter your AC size, efficiency and how long it runs to see your monthly and yearly cost.
How the math works
- Size to cooling: 1 ton of AC = 12,000 BTU per hour.
- Cooling to power: kWh per hour = (tons × 12,000) ÷ (SEER2 × 1,000). A 3 ton, 14.3 SEER2 unit uses about 2.5 kWh each hour it runs.
- Power to dollars: kWh × 11.44¢, NV Energy's Schedule RS energy rate in Southern Nevada as of Oct 1, 2026. It leaves out the $18 monthly basic charge (you pay it either way) and local taxes and fees.
- The year: other months are scaled from your July hours using Las Vegas cooling degree days, a standard measure of how much cooling a month needs. Those monthly figures are approximate.
For a gut check: the federal government's 2020 household survey found the average Nevada home used about 3,686 kWh a year on air conditioning.
An estimate from rated efficiency, not a bill. On the hottest days an AC uses more than its rating suggests.
Common questions
How much does it cost to run AC in Las Vegas?
It depends on size, efficiency and how long it runs. At NV Energy's standard residential rate (about 11.4 cents per kWh as of Oct 1, 2026), a 3 ton AC rated 14.3 SEER2 costs about 29 cents for every hour it runs. Ten hours a day for a month is roughly $87.
What does SEER2 mean for my bill?
SEER2 is a seasonal efficiency rating: more cooling per watt-hour. Going from 14.3 to 18 SEER2 cuts the power use for the same cooling by about 20%. The US Department of Energy says SEER2 and the older SEER numbers are not directly comparable.
Is time-of-use cheaper for AC in Vegas?
It can be if you can avoid running the AC from 6 to 9 pm in summer. NV Energy's optional time-of-use plan charges about 47 cents per kWh in those summer evening hours and about 7 cents off-peak.
Why might my real bill be higher than this?
This uses the rated efficiency. On 110°F days an AC works harder and uses more power than its rating suggests, and older systems lose efficiency. It also leaves out the $18 monthly basic charge and taxes and fees.
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Sources
Show all 7 sources
- NV Energy: Statement of Rates, Schedule RS and ORS-TOU (effective Oct 1, 2026)
- NV Energy: Residential rate notice (July 1, 2026, time-of-use hours)
- US DOE: 2023 central AC standards FAQ (SEER2, Southwest minimums)
- Trane: What is BTUH (1 ton = 12,000 BTU per hour)
- Wikipedia: Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (units and cost formula)
- EIA: Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Nevada end uses
- Climate-Charts: Las Vegas cooling degree days by month (approximate)
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