Whirlpool WRB551WNBS: running cost
ENERGY STAR certifies the Whirlpool WRB551WNBS at 353 kWh/yr, cheaper than most models in its category to run for its category.
The $66 figure above uses the simple average of all 51 published state rates. Pick your state for the real number.
Whirlpool WRB551WNBS against the category
That's 8.5% below the refrigerator category average of 386 kWh/yr, and ranks 2,442 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 $6/year below that average at the national rate. See the methodology page.
What sits beside it in the ranking
Galanz GLR74BRDR12 ($67/yr, 354 kWh/yr) costs a little more to run than the Whirlpool WRB551WNBS. Sub-Zero DET3650R**/* ($66/yr, 353 kWh/yr) costs a little less.
Comparing Whirlpool's own models
Whirlpool makes 156 ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators; this one ranks 34 of 156 for running cost, between the brand's cheapest, the AMA27S1E at $40/yr, and its priciest, the WRF995FIF*** at $142/yr.
What this adds up to over time
NAHB's Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components puts a typical refrigerator's service life at 13 years; run the Whirlpool WRB551WNBS that long and it costs about $863 in electricity, on top of whatever it cost to buy.
Shopping for a new one
The Whirlpool WRB551WNBS is already efficient for its category at $66/year. If you're shopping and comparing options, this is roughly what a well-chosen new refrigerator costs to run.
Worth comparing a few current certified models before deciding.
Protecting what you have
The Whirlpool WRB551WNBS already costs $66/year to run; a repair bill on top of that is the kind of expense a protection plan exists to smooth out.
Sourcing
Two sourced numbers, nothing modeled: ENERGY STAR's certified kWh/yr for this exact model, and EIA's published state electricity rate. Ranked 2,442 of 4,704, the Whirlpool WRB551WNBS sits in the middle of the refrigerator category, see the guide to why your state changes this number for the other half of the math.