Salt Lake City Surpassed Normal Cooling Degree Days
By August 31, 2026, the city recorded 1,535 cooling degree days, exceeding the normal annual total of 1,420.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Current Conditions
Live Poll
Do you expect rising home cooling costs to become a permanent burden on your household budget?
Salt Lake City surpassed its annual normal for cooling degree days by August 31, 2026, reaching 1,535 units compared to the typical 1,420. This spike in high-temperature days caused Utah household cooling costs to exceed their normal annual average.
Why it matters
Higher-than-average cooling degree days indicate prolonged periods of temperatures exceeding 65 degrees, forcing residents to rely more heavily on air conditioning. This trend directly inflates energy expenses for households across the region.
Salt Lake City recorded 1,535 cooling degree days through August 31, surpassing the 1,420-unit normal. Costs reached approximately $264, already exceeding the normal annual average of $244 by $20.
The players
Rocky Mountain Power
This electric utility company provides the current power rates used to calculate residential air conditioning costs in the region.
The details
A cooling degree day is measured for every degree the daily average temperature exceeds 65, with costs calculated using current Rocky Mountain Power rates. Projections indicate that if Salt Lake City ties the 2022 record of 1,943 days, costs could reach approximately $334.
Timeline
Salt Lake City set the cooling degree day record of 1,943 in 2022.
City cooling degree days and costs were measured as of August 31, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
The current 2026 figures follow a trajectory that could potentially challenge the 2022 record established in Salt Lake City. This rise in cooling requirements reflects a sustained increase in high-temperature days that exceeds historical averages for the region.
Residents should anticipate that energy bills will remain higher than average if temperatures continue to stay above 65 degrees. Homeowners can mitigate further cost increases by ensuring air conditioning units are serviced and filters are replaced.
The takeaway
Understanding cooling degree days helps households anticipate the financial burden of extreme temperatures on their monthly energy budgets. Monitoring these figures allows residents to adjust usage patterns proactively as seasonal heat events persist.
Further reading
For more on the current climate impact in the region, visit Current Conditions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU).
Live Poll
Do you expect rising home cooling costs to become a permanent burden on your household budget?
