How much does AC cost to run in New Orleans?

The useful formula

Electric utilities bill energy in kilowatt-hours, or kWh. One kWh is one kilowatt used for one hour, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Operating cost = system kW × hours running × effective dollars per kWh

For example, a system averaging 3.2 kW while cooling and running for six hours uses about 19.2 kWh. At an illustrative $0.16 per kWh, that is about $3.07. Those inputs are examples—not a New Orleans rate or a promise about a particular system.

Use three inputs you can defend

Electricity use: The best input is measured whole-system demand from trustworthy monitoring equipment. The outdoor unit’s nameplate is not a normal operating measurement, and it omits the indoor blower if used alone.
Runtime: Count compressor-on time, not simply the hours the thermostat is set to cool. Variable-capacity equipment complicates this because it can run at different power levels.
Electric price: Use your own bill. Divide charges that actually vary with kWh by billed kWh for the same period. Keep fixed charges separate. Entergy New Orleans publishes its current rate schedules and a 1,000-kWh example bill, but riders and adjustments can change.

Why tonnage and SEER2 cannot produce an exact bill

Tonnage describes cooling capacity, not electric draw. SEER2 compares seasonal cooling output with electrical input under a standardized test. DOE expresses SEER2 in Btu per watt-hour and uses modeled assumptions when it publishes annual cost examples (DOE). Real use changes with weather, equipment staging, installation, ducts, airflow, maintenance, and the house itself.

A capacity-and-SEER2 calculation can give a rough comparison between options. It should be labeled as an estimate and should not replace measured use.

A better way to investigate a high cooling cost

Compare matched periods instead of comparing dollars alone:

billed kWh and number of billing days;
daily or hourly usage, if available;
outdoor weather and thermostat settings;
whether the house stayed comfortable;
changes such as guests, dehumidifiers, pool pumps, electric water heating, or an added appliance.

If kWh rose because the weather was hotter and the system ran longer, that is different from a system that uses more energy while delivering less cooling. The first may be load; the second deserves diagnosis.

What this estimate does not include

This calculation does not allocate fixed bill charges, predict future rates, or prove that AC caused all household usage. It also cannot tell whether a repair or replacement will pay back. Use the calculator for a transparent scenario, then compare it with actual interval or billing data.

Sources

U.S. EIA — Measuring electricity, accessed 8/12/2026
DOE — Purchasing energy-efficient residential central air conditioners, accessed 8/12/2026
Entergy New Orleans — Residential energy price, accessed 8/12/2026