Running cost for the TCL T12WQ2S
At 600 kWh/yr, the TCL T12WQ2S's ENERGY STAR certification puts it about average for its category to run against every other certified room air conditioner.
The $113 figure above uses the simple average of all 51 published state rates. Pick your state for the real number.
TCL T12WQ2S against the category
That's 0.5% below the room air conditioner category average of 603 kWh/yr, and ranks 316 of 447 certified room air conditioners for annual running cost, 1 being cheapest. The category average comes from every room air conditioner ENERGY STAR currently certifies (447 models), not an outside benchmark, about $1/year below that average at the national rate. See the methodology page.
What sits beside it in the ranking
Vissani VAWA12V4HWT ($113/yr, 600 kWh/yr) costs a little more to run than the TCL T12WQ2S. TCL H12W4MW ($113/yr, 600 kWh/yr) costs a little less.
Within the TCL lineup
TCL makes 59 ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners; this one ranks 46 of 59 for running cost, between the brand's cheapest, the T05WV9M at $51/yr, and its priciest, the T24WQ2S at $266/yr.
What this adds up to over time
Over the 10-year service life NAHB reports for this category, running the TCL T12WQ2S costs roughly $1,128 in electricity, separate from the purchase price.
Is it worth replacing?
The TCL T12WQ2S is already efficient for its category at $113/year. If you're shopping and comparing options, this is roughly what a well-chosen new room air conditioner costs to run.
Compare current ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners before buying.
Protecting what you have
The TCL T12WQ2S already costs $113/year to run; a repair bill on top of that is the kind of expense a protection plan exists to smooth out.
Sourcing
Nothing here is estimated from a nameplate wattage; the 600 kWh/yr is ENERGY STAR's own certified figure for this model. Ranked 316 of 447, the TCL T12WQ2S sits in the middle of the room air conditioner category, see the guide to why your state changes this number for the other half of the math.