Outdoor & Garage · North Carolina
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump in North Carolina?
The short answer
In North Carolina, a pool pump drawing 1,500W costs about $0.23 per hour — roughly $55.34 a month if it runs 8 hours a day.
The estimate uses North Carolina’s average residential electricity price of 15.2¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 17% below the national average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Pool Pump cost by daily use in North Carolina
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 45.6 | $0.23 | $6.92 | $83.00 |
| 2 hours/day | 91.3 | $0.45 | $13.84 | $166 |
| 4 hours/day | 182.5 | $0.91 | $27.67 | $332 |
| 8 hours/day | 365.0 | $1.82 | $55.34 | $664 |
| 12 hours/day | 547.6 | $2.73 | $83.01 | $996 |
| 24 hours/day | 1,095.1 | $5.46 | $166 | $1,992 |
North Carolina vs other states
At typical use, a pool pump costs $664 a year in North Carolina — $1,438 less than in Hawaii and $107 more than in Louisiana.
North Carolina has the 16th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. North Carolina price per kWh · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in North Carolina
15.2¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +13.4% 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 North Carolina?
Running a 1,500W pool pump for 24 hours uses about 36.0 kWh, which costs about $5.46 at North Carolina’s average rate of 15.2¢/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 North Carolina that costs $55.34.
Is it expensive to run a pool pump in North Carolina?
North Carolina has the 16th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 15.2¢/kWh — cheaper than most. Running a pool pump here costs about $664 a year at typical use, compared with $802 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in North Carolina right now?
The average residential electricity rate in North Carolina was 15.2¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 13.4% from a year earlier.
Pool Pump costs in nearby states
Other appliances in North Carolina
Cheapest and priciest states
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Default usage for pool pump: 8 hours a day. Typical power 1,500W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).