India AC Electricity
Cost Report 2026
State-wise electricity rates, AC usage costs, and savings insights for Indian households. Based on real BEE tariff data.
Section 1
Key Insights at a Glance
Avg Monthly AC Cost
₹1,714
1.5T 5★ · 8 hrs/day · national avg
Cheapest State
J&K
₹3.8/unit · saves ₹756/mo vs avg
Most Expensive State
Maharashtra
₹8.5/unit · Mumbai residents pay most
1.5T Yearly Cost
₹20,570
5★ inverter · 8 hrs/day · avg rate
5-Star Savings
30%
vs 3-star · saves ₹9,072/year avg
Inverter AC Savings
40–50%
vs non-inverter · payback in 18 months
Section 2
State-Wise AC Electricity Cost
Monthly cost estimates for 8 hrs/day usage. Based on 2026 state tariff orders.
| # | State | ₹/Unit | 1 Ton/mo | 1.5 Ton/mo | 2 Ton/mo | Rate Bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MaharashtraHigh West India | ₹8.5 | ₹1,428 | ₹2,142 | ₹2,856 | |
| 2 | West BengalHigh East India | ₹7.8 | ₹1,310 | ₹1,966 | ₹2,621 | |
| 3 | RajasthanHigh North India | ₹7.5 | ₹1,260 | ₹1,890 | ₹2,520 | |
| 4 | KarnatakaHigh South India | ₹7.3 | ₹1,226 | ₹1,840 | ₹2,453 | |
| 5 | HaryanaHigh North India | ₹7.2 | ₹1,210 | ₹1,814 | ₹2,419 | |
| 6 | DelhiHigh North India | ₹7.0 | ₹1,176 | ₹1,764 | ₹2,352 | |
| 7 | TelanganaHigh South India | ₹7.0 | ₹1,176 | ₹1,764 | ₹2,352 | |
| 8 | Gujarat West India | ₹6.8 | ₹1,142 | ₹1,714 | ₹2,285 | |
| 9 | Madhya Pradesh Central India | ₹6.8 | ₹1,142 | ₹1,714 | ₹2,285 | |
| 10 | Tamil Nadu South India | ₹6.5 | ₹1,092 | ₹1,638 | ₹2,184 | |
| 11 | Punjab North India | ₹6.5 | ₹1,092 | ₹1,638 | ₹2,184 | |
| 12 | Andhra Pradesh South India | ₹6.4 | ₹1,075 | ₹1,613 | ₹2,150 | |
| 13 | Jharkhand East India | ₹6.3 | ₹1,058 | ₹1,588 | ₹2,117 | |
| 14 | Uttar Pradesh North India | ₹6.2 | ₹1,042 | ₹1,562 | ₹2,083 | |
| 15 | Bihar East India | ₹6.0 | ₹1,008 | ₹1,512 | ₹2,016 | |
| 16 | Kerala South India | ₹5.9 | ₹991 | ₹1,487 | ₹1,982 | |
| 17 | OdishaLow East India | ₹5.8 | ₹974 | ₹1,462 | ₹1,949 | |
| 18 | ChhattisgarhLow Central India | ₹5.7 | ₹958 | ₹1,436 | ₹1,915 | |
| 19 | AssamLow NE India | ₹5.5 | ₹924 | ₹1,386 | ₹1,848 | |
| 20 | UttarakhandLow North India | ₹5.2 | ₹874 | ₹1,310 | ₹1,747 | |
| 21 | MeghalayaLow NE India | ₹5.0 | ₹840 | ₹1,260 | ₹1,680 | |
| 22 | Himachal PradeshLow North India | ₹4.8 | ₹806 | ₹1,210 | ₹1,613 | |
| 23 | GoaLow West India | ₹4.5 | ₹756 | ₹1,134 | ₹1,512 | |
| 24 | Jammu & KashmirLow North India | ₹3.8 | ₹638 | ₹958 | ₹1,277 |
* 5-star inverter AC · 8 hrs/day · BEE 2026 efficiency values
Sorted by: Electricity Rate
Section 3
City-Wise Cost Comparison
1.5T 5-star inverter AC · 8 hrs/day · monthly cost comparison across major cities.
Delhi
Delhi · ₹7/unit
₹1,764
/month
Annual
₹21.2k
Summer
₹2,558
Avg hrs/day
10h
Mumbai
Maharashtra · ₹8.5/unit
₹2,142
/month
Annual
₹25.7k
Summer
₹3,106
Avg hrs/day
9h
Kolkata
West Bengal · ₹7.8/unit
₹1,966
/month
Annual
₹23.6k
Summer
₹2,851
Avg hrs/day
9h
Bangalore
Karnataka · ₹7.3/unit
₹1,840
/month
Annual
₹22.1k
Summer
₹2,668
Avg hrs/day
7h
Chennai
Tamil Nadu · ₹6.5/unit
₹1,638
/month
Annual
₹19.7k
Summer
₹2,375
Avg hrs/day
11h
Hyderabad
Telangana · ₹7/unit
₹1,764
/month
Annual
₹21.2k
Summer
₹2,558
Avg hrs/day
9h
Mumbai vs J&K gap: A Mumbai household pays ₹1,184/month more than a J&K household for the same 1.5T 5-star AC usage — a 55% premium purely due to electricity tariff differences. Summer costs are estimated at 45% above normal monthly costs.
Section 4
Usage Hours vs Monthly Cost
5-star inverter AC · national avg rate ₹6.8/unit · monthly cost by usage hours.
| Usage / Day | 1.0 Ton | 1.5 Ton | 2.0 Ton | Annual (1.5T) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
4 hrs/day 120 hrs/month | ₹571 | ₹857 | ₹1,142 | ₹10.3k |
6 hrs/day 180 hrs/month | ₹857 | ₹1,285 | ₹1,714 | ₹15.4k |
8 hrs/day 240 hrs/month | ₹1,142 | ₹1,714 | ₹2,285 | ₹20.6k |
10 hrs/day 300 hrs/month | ₹1,428 | ₹2,142 | ₹2,856 | ₹25.7k |
12 hrs/day 360 hrs/month | ₹1,714 | ₹2,570 | ₹3,427 | ₹30.8k |
16 hrs/day 480 hrs/month | ₹2,285 | ₹3,427 | ₹4,570 | ₹41.1k |
Light User
₹857/mo
4 hrs/day · Ideal for bedrooms with mild climate
Average User
₹1,714/mo
8 hrs/day · Most Indian households in summer
Heavy User
₹3,427/mo
16 hrs/day · WFH or extreme heat zones
Section 5
Tonnage Comparison: 1T vs 1.5T vs 2T
5-star inverter AC · 8 hrs/day · national avg ₹6.8/unit.
0.8 Ton
₹914
5★ · /month
1.0 Ton
₹1,142
5★ · /month
1.2 Ton
₹1,371
5★ · /month
1.5 Ton
₹1,714
5★ · /month
2.0 Ton
₹2,285
5★ · /month
Visual Cost Comparison — Monthly (5★ Inverter)
Section 6
Summer vs Normal Month Cost
1.5T 5-star inverter AC · Delhi (₹7/unit) · estimated monthly AC bill across the year.
Peak Summer (May)
₹1,714
vs base: +100%
Avg Summer (Apr–Jun)
₹1,594
vs base: +93%
Monsoon (Jul–Sep)
₹1,080
vs base: +63%
Winter (Nov–Feb)
₹274
vs base: +16%
Summer Premium: ₹4,000–₹8,000/year
Indian households pay a significant "summer premium" — the extra cost incurred during April–June vs the annual average. In Delhi, a 1.5T AC running 10 hrs/day in May costs ₹2,940/month vs ₹1,470/month in October — a 100% increase. Over 3 peak months, this adds ₹4,410 to the annual bill.
Section 7
Savings Analysis: Star Rating & Inverter
1.5T AC · 8 hrs/day · ₹6.8/unit. How much you save by upgrading.
3-Star vs 5-Star Monthly Cost (1.5T)
3★ → 5★ Monthly Savings
Payback period: ~8–11 months
₹734
₹8,808/year
Inverter vs Non-Inverter (1.5T, 3-Star)
Non-Inverter Annual
₹29.4k
Inverter Annual Savings
₹10.3k
Why inverter saves more at night: Inverter compressors modulate speed. At 45% load (night/sleep mode), power draw drops to 675W vs 1,500W fixed — a 55% reduction in consumption.
Section 9
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Section 10
Methodology & Data Sources
BEE Star Rating Data
AC efficiency values (kW per ton) are sourced from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) 2026 star rating schedule. 5-star ACs use 0.70 kW/ton; 3-star use 1.0 kW/ton at rated conditions.
State Electricity Tariffs
Residential electricity rates are sourced from state electricity regulatory commission (SERC) tariff orders effective April 2026. Rates represent the average slab applicable to typical household consumption (200–400 units/month).
Calculation Formula
Monthly Cost = AC Wattage (kW) × Daily Hours × 30 days × Electricity Rate (₹/unit). Wattage = Tonnage × Star Efficiency Factor. All costs are estimates; actual bills depend on ambient temperature, insulation, and usage patterns.
Key Assumptions
All costs assume 5-star inverter AC unless stated otherwise
Electricity rates are residential slab averages (not commercial)
Inverter AC efficiency varies with ambient temperature — values are at 35°C rated conditions
Summer costs estimated at 45% above normal due to higher ambient temperature and longer run times
Annual costs assume 8 months of AC usage (April–November) at varying intensities
Costs exclude fixed charges, meter rent, and taxes which vary by state
Data updated annually — last update: April 2026
Platform data from 10,000+ real bill calculations cross-validates estimates
Section 11
Frequently Asked Questions
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