Running cost for the RCA RFR320-B-BLACK
The RCA RFR320-B-BLACK is certified by ENERGY STAR at 197 kWh a year, one of the cheaper models in its category to run among refrigerators currently certified.
The $37 figure above uses the simple average of all 51 published state rates. Pick your state for the real number.
RCA RFR320-B-BLACK against the category
That's 49% below the refrigerator category average of 386 kWh/yr, and ranks 241 of 4,704 certified refrigerators for annual running cost, 1 being cheapest. The category average comes from every refrigerator ENERGY STAR currently certifies (4,704 models), not an outside benchmark, about $36/year below that average at the national rate. See the methodology page.
What sits beside it in the ranking
RCA RFR320-B-ORANGE-COM ($37/yr, 197 kWh/yr) costs a little more to run than the RCA RFR320-B-BLACK. RCA EFR331 ($37/yr, 197 kWh/yr) costs a little less.
Comparing RCA's own models
RCA makes 46 ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators; this one ranks 5 of 46 for running cost, between the brand's cheapest, the EFR180 at $30/yr, and its priciest, the RFR836-6COM at $60/yr.
Cost over its typical lifespan
13 years is NAHB's typical service life for this category; at $37/year, the RCA RFR320-B-BLACK adds up to about $481 in electricity over that span.
Weighing a replacement
The RCA RFR320-B-BLACK is already efficient for its category at $37/year. If you're shopping and comparing options, this is roughly what a well-chosen new refrigerator costs to run.
See what else is certified in this category before you decide.
Protecting what you have
At $37/year just to run, a refrigerator is worth protecting against an unplanned repair bill on top of that.
Sourcing
Two sourced numbers, nothing modeled: ENERGY STAR's certified kWh/yr for this exact model, and EIA's published state electricity rate. The full Refrigerator category page shows all 4,704 refrigerators ranked by cost; the state-rate guide covers the half of this number that isn't the appliance.