The useful answerSecond fridge electricity cost should be compared with the storage you actually use. At a hypothetical 1.50 kWh per day and $0.18/kWh, an extra refrigerator costs $98.55 over 365 days. A low purchase price does not remove that recurring cost.

Measure a representative period

Record several days of cumulative kWh with a suitable, permitted meter, then divide by the observed days. Include normal door openings and food loading. A nearly empty spare fridge in a cool week may not represent summer use in a warmer room.

For an appliance you have not bought, compare the annual kWh on compatible EnergyGuide labels. The FTC explains that label operating costs are estimates. Apply your own electricity rate and keep the standardized estimate separate from an at-home measurement.

Use a full-year calculation

A hypothetical daily average of 1.50 kWh becomes 547.5 kWh over 365 days. At $0.18/kWh, the annual electricity cost is $98.55, averaging about $8.21 per calendar month. This annual method uses 365 days, unlike a twelve-by-thirty-day planning shortcut.

If a replacement uses an estimated 300 kWh per year, its energy cost at the same rate is $54. The illustrative difference is $44.55 per year, before purchase, delivery or disposal costs.

Ask what the extra space achieves

List what the second fridge holds during an ordinary week. Distinguish regularly used food storage from items that could fit in the primary fridge after reorganizing. Savings from bulk food purchases count only if the food is actually used and the purchases are cheaper after all relevant costs.

A second unit may be worthwhile for convenience, but that is a separate benefit from lowering the electricity bill. Avoid treating every grocery discount as a refrigerator energy saving.

Compare keep, replace and retire

Keeping a functioning unit has no new purchase cost; replacing it adds an upfront amount; retiring it removes storage as well as its running cost. Check safe food storage arrangements before switching anything off. Follow manufacturer and local disposal guidance for an unused refrigerator. In a rental, confirm ownership first. Write a one-year and a longer-term comparison so a small annual saving does not disguise a large replacement expense.

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Sources & further reading

Numerical examples are illustrative unless explicitly described as measured. This guide does not claim hands-on product testing. Read the methodology and editorial disclosure.