Quick answer
Air-conditioner running cost depends on electrical input, operating hours, compressor load and your tariff—not simply the advertised cooling capacity.
What matters most
- Use electrical input power from the datasheet or measured consumption.
- Inverter units modulate and often draw less than maximum after reaching setpoint.
- Solar can offset daytime cooling load when production is available.
Use your own tariff where possible
Australian electricity prices vary by plan and network. A national average can be useful for a rough example, but a decision-quality calculation should use the usage charges shown on your current bill.
How to calculate it with SunnyWatly
Use the relevant calculator with your own bill, quote or vehicle information. Defaults are examples only and can become stale as tariffs, rebates and hardware change.
Do not rely on a headline figure alone. Ask what assumptions sit behind the estimate and whether they match your property, tariff and usage pattern.
What can change the result
- Electricity usage and time of day.
- Retail import and feed-in tariffs.
- Roof, shading, inverter or charger constraints.
- Hardware efficiency and usable capacity.
- Network limits and future tariff changes.
Primary public sources used by SunnyWatly