Running cost comes down to wattage, hours and your rate. In Idaho the rate is 12.35 cents per kWh, which is 33.0 percent below the national average. Here is what that means for a pool pump.
A pool pump drawing 1,500 W costs $0.19 per hour in Idaho. Run 8 hours a day that is $1.48 daily, $44.46 a month and $541 a year, which is $267 less than the same appliance at the US average rate.
Pool pump cost at Idaho rates
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Planning estimate. The rate box is prefilled with a regional average; the figure on your own bill is the one that matters. Power is draw while running, not while switched on.
Cost by hours used per day in Idaho
| Hours/day | Energy | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 1.50 kWh | $0.19 | $5.56 |
| 2 h | 3.00 kWh | $0.37 | $11.12 |
| 4 h | 6.00 kWh | $0.74 | $22.23 |
| 6 h | 9.00 kWh | $1.11 | $33.35 |
| 8 h | 12.00 kWh | $1.48 | $44.46 |
| 12 h | 18.00 kWh | $2.22 | $66.69 |
| 24 h | 36.00 kWh | $4.45 | $133 |
Cost by wattage at 12.35 cents
| Rated power | Per hour | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750 W | $0.09 | $0.74 | $22.23 |
| 1,000 W | $0.12 | $0.99 | $29.64 |
| 1,500 W | $0.19 | $1.48 | $44.46 |
| 2,000 W | $0.25 | $1.98 | $59.28 |
| 2,500 W | $0.31 | $2.47 | $74.10 |
Find the row matching the nameplate on your own unit. Within a single appliance category the spread is often wider than the difference between categories, so the label is worth reading.
Pool season in Idaho
Pool season in Idaho is limited, typically four to six months, so apply the monthly figure across that window rather than twelve months. Winterising properly matters more than pump efficiency in a climate like this.
Why Idaho pays what it does
Idaho is a regulated market, so your utility is the only supplier and the rate is set through the state commission rather than by competition. Pricing tends to be steadier than in deregulated states, and there is no switching decision available. The levers are all on your side of the meter.
At 12.35 cents, Idaho ranks 1 of 51 from cheapest to most expensive. The West regional average is 19.65 cents. Roughly half of any residential bill is transmission and distribution rather than generation, which is why rates keep climbing even when fuel prices fall.
How this compares across the country
The same pool pump on the same schedule, in the cheapest and dearest states:
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $44.46 | $541 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $46.66 | $568 |
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $44.46 | $541 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $120 | $1,456 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $187 | $2,278 |
Lowering the number in Idaho
- Work out your actual turnover requirement. Many pumps are scheduled for eight or twelve hours when four would filter the volume.
- Reduce runtime in steps. Cut an hour, watch the water a week, cut another.
- Switch to variable speed. Power rises with the cube of flow, so slower for longer moves the same water for roughly a quarter of the energy.
- Keep skimmer and pump baskets clear. A restricted intake makes the motor fight pressure it should not see.
- Run off-peak if you are on a time-of-use plan. Nobody cares when a pool pump runs.
Offsetting it with solar in Idaho
This load uses about 12.00 kWh a day. Covering that would take roughly 9 standard 400 W panels at typical sun hours, an array of about 3.60 kW. Because it offsets electricity worth 12.35 cents rather than the national 18.44 cents, the same array is worth less here than the national payback figures suggest.
Pool pumps are the ideal solar load: large, daytime, and completely flexible about timing. Variable-speed pumps make the match better still. Full sizing, including battery and inverter requirements, is on the solar sizing page for this appliance.