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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump in British Columbia? (2026)
A single speed pool pump running 8 hours a day is frequently the second largest electricity consumer in a home after air conditioning. Variable speed pumps cut this cost dramatically.
A typical pool pump (1,500 W) costs C$0.20 per hour, or about C$46.80 per month at 8 hours a day in British Columbia. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (500 W) | C$0.065 | C$0.52 | C$15.60 | C$189.80 |
| Typical (1,500 W) | C$0.20 | C$1.56 | C$46.80 | C$569.40 |
| High (2,500 W) | C$0.33 | C$2.60 | C$78.00 | C$949.00 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 4,380 kWh per year.
One hour of a pool pump (1.5 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 8.3km in an electric car
- 15hours of TV
- 33hours of a laptop
- 167hours of an LED bulb
In British Columbia, with electricity at C$0.13 per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical pool pump costs C$0.20 per hour and about C$569.40 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 7% less than the national average for Canada (C$50.40 per month), because electricity in British Columbia costs C$0.13 per kWh against C$0.14 nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 5.1 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a pool pump
- Replace a single speed pump with a variable speed model. Savings of 50 to 80 percent are typical.
- Run the pump only as long as needed for one full water turnover, usually 6 to 8 hours.
- Schedule pump run time for off-peak electricity hours.
- Keep the filter and skimmer baskets clean so the pump works against less resistance.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a day should a pool pump run?
Long enough to turn over the pool volume once, typically 6 to 8 hours in summer and less in winter.
How much does a pool pump cost to run per month?
A 1,500 watt pump for 8 hours uses 12 kWh a day, or about 360 kWh a month. Check the monthly figure above.
Are variable speed pumps worth it?
Usually yes. The payback period is commonly one to three years.
Cost by region
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