States Spending The Most On Air Conditioning

By Sam Stebbins  •  March 25, 2026
we're air conditioned for your comfort sticker
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Perhaps the most direct and quantifiable shift in the era of climate change has been Earth’s warming atmosphere. According to a report from NASA, global temperatures are now estimated to be rising 10 times faster than they have on average in similar stages of our current ice age cycle. Indeed, each year between 2015 and 2025 ranks among the hottest 11-years on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

In the United States, rising temperatures have meant longer, hotter summers – and, for millions of Americans, rising household utility bills. Data from the Energy Information Administration shows that energy use for household air conditioners rose from 635 trillion BTUs in 2009 to 866.1 trillion BTUs in 2020. Over the same period, the total amount Americans paid to power air conditioning units grew from $27.3 billion to $32.8 billion, adjusting for inflation. 

Rising energy demand for air conditioning is attributable both to growing adoption and more frequent usage. Between 2009 and 2020, the share of American households using air conditioning climbed from 83% to 88%, as the average household air conditioner energy use rose from 6.8 million BTUs to 7.9 million BTUs. Due to more frequent usage, U.S. households paid an average of about $10 more for air conditioning in 2020 than they did in 2009, adjusting for inflation. In certain parts of the country, however, warming temperatures have had a much more pronounced effect on air conditioning costs, as annual bills have more than doubled in over a dozen U.S. states. 

Using data from the EIA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states where air conditioning is driving up utility bills the most. We ranked all states in the continental U.S. on the relative change in average annual air conditioner energy costs between 2009 and 2020. For comparison purposes, all 2009 dollar figures are adjusted for inflation using the CPI Inflation Calculator from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Supplemental data on average summer temperatures by year are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

The 10 states on this list are largely concentrated in the Midwest and the Northeast. In most of these places, households paid at least $100 more on air conditioning in 2020 than they did in 2009. Across these same states, average summer temperatures rose by anywhere from 3.0°F to 5.2°F between 2009 and 2020. 

10. Indiana                                                                          

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +118.3% (+$130)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $240 in 2020, $110 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 14% in 2020, 4% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 73.5°F in 2020, 70.5°F in 2009

9. Colorado                                                                        

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +123.5% (+$78)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $142 in 2020, $64 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 13% in 2020, 2% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 68.1°F in 2020, 63.8°F in 2009

8. New Hampshire                                                              

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +123.6% (+$101)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $183 in 2020, $82 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 15% in 2020, 1% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 67.2°F in 2020, 63.7°F in 2009
Aerial shot of a residential area in Spanish Fork, Utah, showcasing modern homes and green lawns.
Photo by Get Lost Mike on Pexels

7. Utah                                                                               

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +127.0% (+$116)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $208 in 2020, $92 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 13% in 2020, 3% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 71.6°F in 2020, 68.3°F in 2009

6. Iowa                                                                             

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +156.3% (+$116)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $191 in 2020, $75 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 11% in 2020, 3% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 73.4°F in 2020, 68.4°F in 2009

5. Rhode Island                                                                  

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +198.1% (+$162)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $244 in 2020, $82 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 13% in 2020, 1% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 72.4°F in 2020, 68.4°F in 2009

4. Wisconsin                                                                      

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +216.3% (+$98)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $143 in 2020, $45 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 12% in 2020, 1% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 68.9°F in 2020, 64.0°F in 2009

3. Connecticut                                                                   

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +226.2% (+$185)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $267 in 2020, $82 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 14% in 2020, 1% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 72.2°F in 2020, 68.1°F in 2009

2. Massachusetts                                                               

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +299.6% (+$187)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $249 in 2020, $62 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 14% in 2020, 2% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 71.3°F in 2020, 67.1°F in 2009

1. Michigan                                                                       

  • Change in avg. household air conditioning energy expenses, 2009-2020: +320.6% (+$168)
  • Avg. household energy expenditure for air conditioning: $221 in 2020, $53 in 2009 (adj. for inflation)
  • Air conditioning as share of household energy expenditures: Approx. 10% in 2020, 2% in 2009
  • Avg. summer temperature: 69.0°F in 2020, 63.8°F in 2009


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