The Runtime Complexity (innermost) of the given CpxTRS could be proven to be BOUNDS(n^1, INF).

(0) Obligation:

Runtime Complexity TRS:
The TRS R consists of the following rules:

app(nil, k) → k
app(l, nil) → l
app(cons(x, l), k) → cons(x, app(l, k))
sum(cons(x, nil)) → cons(x, nil)
sum(cons(x, cons(y, l))) → sum(cons(a(x, y, h), l))
a(h, h, x) → s(x)
a(x, s(y), h) → a(x, y, s(h))
a(x, s(y), s(z)) → a(x, y, a(x, s(y), z))
a(s(x), h, z) → a(x, z, z)

Rewrite Strategy: INNERMOST

(1) DecreasingLoopProof (EQUIVALENT transformation)

The following loop(s) give(s) rise to the lower bound Ω(n¹):
The rewrite sequence
app(cons(x, l), k) →⁺ cons(x, app(l, k))
gives rise to a decreasing loop by considering the right hand sides subterm at position [1].
The pumping substitution is [l / cons(x, l)].
The result substitution is [ ].

(2) BOUNDS(n^1, INF)