Convenience Store Refrigeration Energy Cost Calculator
Enter each unit's daily energy use and your electricity rate to estimate what your refrigeration costs to run each month and year.
Updated October 25, 2026
Refrigeration energy cost calculator
Enter each unit's daily energy use in kWh from its spec sheet or the ENERGY STAR product finder, and your electricity rate.
Default: U.S. commercial average, August 2026 (EIA)
Real use depends on door openings, ambient temperature, maintenance and settings. Demand charges and time-of-use rates are not included.
Why refrigeration energy matters
Refrigeration runs around the clock in every convenience store, and the cooler wall, walk-ins, beer cave and ice machine are among the biggest electricity users in the building. Knowing what they cost to run helps you compare equipment options and decide when replacing an old system pays off.
How the calculator works
Daily energy is the sum of each unit's kWh per day times its quantity. Yearly cost is daily energy × 365 × your rate. Enter the figures from each unit's spec sheet, or from the ENERGY STAR product finder for listed products.
The default rate is the U.S. commercial average for August 2026: 14.47 cents per kWh (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly). Rates vary widely by state and utility, so use your own bill if you can.
Using the result
- Comparing equipment: run two units side by side to see the yearly difference.
- Replace or keep: compare the running cost of an old system with a new one, alongside repair costs. See our repair or replace guide.
- Budgeting: add refrigeration to your operating budget in the business plan.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (commercial sector average retail price, August 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find a unit's kWh per day?
What electricity rate should I use?
How can I lower refrigeration energy costs?
Keep planning
- ToolCooler wall plannerEnter the number of glass doors you want to see how long the cooler wall runs and how much floor the walk-in behind it takes.
- ToolEquipment list builderChoose your food program, fuel and beverage options for a printable list of the equipment a store like yours typically needs.
- Beer cave costPublished costs for beer caves by size, what drives the price, and the questions that decide whether one pays off in your store.
- Remodel costA remodel can be a refresh or a near-rebuild. What decides the budget is how much of the store's systems have to change.
Ready for real numbers?
Turn a planning range into a quote for your store
JayComp Development has designed and built more than 2,500 convenience stores, liquor stores and travel centers since 1996, from Ravia, Oklahoma to all 50 states. We design the store, then supply and install the equipment.
Send the site, the store type and your timing. Quotes are free, with no obligation.
Request a design-build quote
Or call (877) 843-0183.