Kitchen · South
Cost to run a refrigerator in Alabama
At Alabama’s average residential rate of 16.77¢ per kWh, a refrigerator drawing 150W for 24 hours a day costs about $6.43 a month. Change the numbers below to match how you actually use yours.
Quick answer
Based on 150W at a 35% duty cycle (this equipment cycles on and off rather than drawing full power continuously) and 16.77¢/kWh, the Alabama average for May 2026.
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— per year
Why the cost differs in Alabama
Alabama has the 28th cheapest residential electricity of the 51 US states and territories we track, at 16.77¢ per kWh against a national average of 18.44¢. That is -9.1% compared with the national figure. Alabama's retail market is regulated, with Alabama Power serving most households, so the rate you pay is set through state rate cases rather than by shopping between suppliers. Generation leans on natural gas and nuclear. The dominant load pattern is summer cooling: humidity keeps air conditioners cycling well into the evening, which lifts the months from June to September far above the winter baseline.
For this appliance specifically, the difference works out to a saving of $7.68 a year against what the same refrigerator would cost at the national average rate. Run the identical appliance in Hawaii and it would cost $239 a year; in Idaho it would cost $56.80. That spread of $182 is entirely down to location.
That works out to roughly 4.4% of a typical Alabama household's annual electricity bill - modest individually, though appliances in this range add up.
Alabama sits below the national average, so this refrigerator costs slightly less to run here than it would for a typical US household. How you use it will move the number far more than where you live.
Retail service in Alabama is regulated, so most households pay a tariff set through state rate cases rather than a shopped rate. The state average is a reasonable proxy, though your utility's specific tariff still varies.
| Location | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama this page | 16.77¢ | $6.43 | $77.13 |
| US average | 18.44¢ | $7.07 | $84.81 |
| Idaho cheapest state | 12.35¢ | $4.74 | $56.80 |
| Hawaii most expensive | 52.00¢ | $19.94 | $239 |
Alabama electricity rate trend
Rates in Alabama have moved from 16.06¢ to 16.77¢ per kWh over the last twelve months of published data. Nationally, residential rates rose about 6.2% year over year.
2025-06 to 2026-05 · cents per kWh
About running a refrigerator
A modern refrigerator draws 100 to 250 watts but the compressor only runs about a third of the time, so effective consumption is far below nameplate. It never switches off, though, which makes it one of the largest annual loads in a low-usage home. Units older than about 15 years often use two to three times more.
What actually changes the cost
- Nameplate wattage is not running cost. This refrigerator draws about 150W when active, but cycles roughly 35% of the time it is switched on, so effective consumption is near 52.5W.
- Models vary widely, from about 100W to 250W. Check the nameplate on your own unit rather than assuming an average, because the spread is more than 2x.
- Because this runs continuously, small wattage differences between models compound into large annual differences.
- If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, shifting this load off-peak can cut its cost substantially without using any less energy.
How we worked this out
The arithmetic is simple and we would rather show it than hide it. Divide watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours of use and by the duty cycle to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your rate:
150W ÷ 1000 × 24h × 35% = 1.260 kWh/day × 16.77¢ = $0.211 per day
One honest caveat: Alabama’s figure is a state average published by the EIA. Your own utility’s tariff, any time-of-use pricing, fixed monthly service charges and local taxes all shift the real number. Put your actual per-kWh rate into the calculator above for a figure that reflects your bill.
Questions about refrigerator running costs
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
A typical refrigerator draws about 150 watts while running, with most models falling between 100W and 250W. Check the nameplate label or manual for your specific unit - the range is wide enough that averages can mislead.
How much electricity does a refrigerator use per day?
At around 24 hours of use a day and a 35% duty cycle, that works out to roughly 1.26 kWh per day, or about 38 kWh a month. Your actual figure depends on your usage and model.
Why does the cost differ so much between states?
Residential electricity rates across the US range from about 12.35 cents per kWh in North Dakota to 46.62 cents in Hawaii - nearly a fourfold difference. The same refrigerator, used identically, therefore costs almost four times as much to run in the most expensive state as in the cheapest.
Is it cheaper to run a refrigerator at night?
Only if you are on a time-of-use or variable tariff. On a flat rate, the time of day makes no difference to cost. If you are on time-of-use pricing, off-peak hours are typically materially cheaper, and shifting this load can reduce its cost without reducing usage.