How do you estimate SEER2 savings?

Annual cooling kWh equals tons times 12,000 BTU per ton, times cooling hours, divided by the efficiency rating, divided by 1,000. Dollar savings equal the kWh difference times your cents per kWh. This page estimates cooling energy only.

What electric rate should Orlando homeowners use?

Use the all-in cents per kWh from your latest bill when you can. City of Orlando is often served by OUC; many surrounding areas are Duke Energy Florida. Planning presets on this page are editable starting points, not a locked tariff.

How many cooling hours does Central Florida use?

A common Central Florida planning range is about 2,400 to 2,500 equivalent full-load cooling hours per year. South Florida runs higher. Your thermostat, shade, insulation, and duct leakage change the real number, so this tool keeps hours editable.

Is SEER the same as SEER2?

No. SEER2 uses a tougher duct-static test (DOE M1) that started in 2023. The same equipment usually shows a SEER2 number about five percent lower than its old SEER. This calculator can convert a legacy SEER input so you are not comparing unlike ratings by accident.

Orlando rates · cooling kWh only

SEER2 Savings Calculator for Orlando

Annual cooling cost drops when SEER2 goes up, but only if you use your tons, hours, and bill rate. A typical Central Florida home runs about 2,400–2,500 cooling hours a year. City Orlando is often OUC; nearby areas are often Duke. Put the cents-per-kWh from your bill when you can. This estimates cooling kWh only — not the whole electric bill, not a proposal, and not a payback promise.

Compare old unit vs new SEER2

System size (tons) Nameplate tons. 1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h.

Cooling hours / year Default 2,400 for Central FL planning. Edit if your home runs more or less.

Electric rate preset (Orlando-area planning)

OUC ~15.2¢ Duke FL ~16.6¢ My bill

OUC ~15.24¢/kWh and Duke FL ~16.63¢/kWh are published all-in averages used as editable starting points (not your locked tariff). Best input: total $ ÷ kWh on your bill.

¢ per kWh All-in residential cents. Excludes fixed customer charge.

Optional: price gap ($) for payback Extra installed cost of the higher-SEER2 option. Leave blank to skip payback.

Old efficiency From the outdoor nameplate or AHRI.

Old rating type Legacy SEER is converted ≈5% down for fair compare.

New SEER2 Southeast split AC minimum is 14.3 SEER2.

Estimated annual cooling savings

—Old annual cooling kWh

—New annual cooling kWh

—Cooling energy cut

—Old cooling $ / year

—New cooling $ / year

—Simple payback (if gap entered)

Cooling slice only. Fixed customer charges, taxes, riders, water heaters, dryers, and pool pumps are not in this number. Real bills also move with thermostat setpoints, shade, insulation, and duct leaks.

Not a contractor quote, Manual J, or rebate guarantee. SEER2 is a matched indoor/outdoor rating — ask for the AHRI certificate on the exact pair. Do not invent tax credits from this page; check current IRS and utility rules yourself.

How the math works

Annual cooling kWh = (tons × 12,000 × cooling hours) ÷ efficiency ÷ 1,000. Dollar savings = kWh difference × $/kWh. Efficiency is SEER2 for the new unit. If you entered legacy SEER for the old unit, this tool multiplies it by about 0.95 (DOE M1 / SEER2 is a tougher static-pressure test, so the same hardware prints ~5% lower).

Orlando-area rate notes (honest defaults)

Utility (common in metro)	Planning cents/kWh used here	What it is
OUC (City of Orlando / St. Cloud area)	~15.24¢	Published all-in average style figure used as a starting preset. OUC also has a monthly customer charge and tiered energy; your bill may differ.
Duke Energy Florida (many suburbs)	~16.63¢	Published residential average used as a starting preset. Seasonal riders change bills through the year.
Your bill	whatever you type	Best input: total dollar amount ÷ kWh used on a recent statement.

These presets were checked as planning averages in 2026 third-party rate summaries. They are not a live tariff scrape. Edit them.

Cooling hours in Florida

Central Florida / Orlando planning: about 2,400–2,500 equivalent full-load hours (this page defaults to 2,400).
South Florida: often higher (closer to 2,700–2,900 in many planning tables).
National “Zone 2” tables sometimes quote ~1,100 hours. That understates a humid Florida house that cools most of the year. Keep hours editable.

What this page will not do

No contractor phone, no shop CTA, no “book a free estimate.”
No invented install prices or brand premiums.
No promise that a higher SEER2 alone cuts the whole electric bill in half.
No claim that efficiency payback beats replacing a dead compressor for comfort/reliability reasons.

FAQ

Will upgrading SEER2 cut my bill in half?

Usually no. Cooling is only part of the bill. A big SEER jump can cut the cooling slice a lot; the whole-house bill drops less. Be skeptical of sales claims that skip your rate and hours.

What SEER2 should I shop in Orlando?

Southeast residential split AC must meet at least 14.3 SEER2 for new installs. Mid-teens often balance cost and savings for Central Florida runtimes; very high SEER2 only pays if hours and rates are high enough to clear the price gap. Use the optional payback field with a real quote difference.

Does this replace a Manual J or AHRI match?

No. Size the load correctly first. SEER2 is a matched-pair rating. Wrong tonnage or a mismatched air handler can erase the savings this page estimates.

Also in this DIY set

AC tonnage calculator for Florida homes. This page is cooling-kWh math only. Not a contractor advertisement.