How Much Does It Cost to Run a Sump Pump in Newfoundland and Labrador? (2026)

A sump pump draws 400 to 1,500 watts but only runs when the pit fills. In dry seasons that may be minutes a day; in a wet spring it can run for hours.

A typical sump pump (800 W) costs C$0.12 per hour, or about C$1.87 per month at 0.5 hours a day in Newfoundland and Labrador. Cheap to run

Hours used per day
WattagePer hourPer dayPer monthPer year
Low 400 WC$0.062C$0.031C$0.94C$11.38
Typical 800 WC$0.12C$0.062C$1.87C$22.76
High 1,500 WC$0.23C$0.12C$3.51C$42.68

Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.5 h/day ≈ 146 kWh per year.

One hour of a sump pump (0.80 kWh) is the same electricity as

Electricity per year at typical use, on a log scale: #45 of 95 appliances, from least to most.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, with electricity at 15.6¢ per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical sump pump costs C$0.12 per hour and about C$22.76 per year at 0.5 hours a day. That is about 11% more than the national average for Canada (C$1.68 per month), because electricity in Newfoundland and Labrador costs 15.6¢ per kWh against 14.0¢ nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 8.0 hours of use.

How to lower the cost of running a sump pump

Frequently asked questions

How much does a sump pump cost to run?

About 0.4 kWh a day at 30 minutes of run time. Far more during storms.

Does a sump pump use electricity when not pumping?

No. It draws nothing until the float switch closes.

Should I be worried about a sump pump running constantly?

Yes. It usually means a stuck float, a high water table, or a failed check valve.

Cost by region

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Related appliances

Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz