U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Outdoor & Garage · California

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump in California?

The short answer

A typical 1,500W pool pump costs about $0.50 per hour to run in California, or $123 a month at 8 hours a day.

California’s average residential rate was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 84% above the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Pool Pump cost by daily use in California

Cost at 33.6¢/kWh, the California average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 45.6 $0.50 $15.34 $184
2 hours/day 91.3 $1.01 $30.67 $368
4 hours/day 182.5 $2.02 $61.34 $736
8 hours/day 365.0 $4.03 $123 $1,472
12 hours/day 547.6 $6.05 $184 $2,208
24 hours/day 1,095.1 $12.10 $368 $4,416

California vs other states

At typical use, a pool pump costs $1,472 a year in California — $630 less than in Hawaii and $915 more than in Louisiana.

California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. California price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in California

33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a pool pump

Pool pumps can be one of the biggest electricity users in a home with a pool because they run for many hours every day of the season. A single-speed 1–2 HP pump typically draws 1,000–2,500W. Variable-speed pumps are dramatically more efficient: running at low speed for longer moves the same water with a fraction of the energy, which is why many states now require them for new installs.

  • Switch to a variable-speed pump — savings of 50–80% are common.
  • Run the pump only as long as needed to turn over the water once a day.
  • Keep skimmer baskets and filters clean so the pump doesn't strain.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a pool pump for 24 hours in California?

Running a 1,500W pool pump for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $12.10 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh.

How many kWh does a pool pump use per month?

At 8 hours a day, a typical pool pump uses about 365 kWh a month. In California that costs $123.

Is it expensive to run a pool pump in California?

California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a pool pump here costs about $1,472 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in California right now?

The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% from a year earlier.

Pool Pump costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Sources & method