Outdoor & Garage · West
Cost to run a pool pump in Montana
At Montana’s average residential rate of 14.67¢ per kWh, a pool pump drawing 1500W for 8 hours a day costs about $53.59 a month. Change the numbers below to match how you actually use yours.
The cooling season in Montana is short. A pool pump will earn its running cost over a few weeks rather than a few months, which makes the per-day figure a more useful number here than the annual one.
Quick answer
Based on 1500W and 14.67¢/kWh, the Montana average for May 2026.
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— per year
Why the cost differs in Montana
Montana has the 13th cheapest residential electricity of the 51 US states and territories we track, at 14.67¢ per kWh against a national average of 18.44¢. That is -20.4% compared with the national figure. Montana combines hydroelectric and wind generation with the lowest population density outside Alaska and Wyoming, which cuts both ways: cheap generation, but long transmission runs to few customers. Retail service is largely regulated. Winter heating dominates by a wide margin, and the heating season is long enough that space heating choices matter more here than almost anywhere.
For this appliance specifically, the difference works out to a saving of $165 a year against what the same pool pump would cost at the national average rate. Run the identical appliance in Hawaii and it would cost $2,278 a year; in Idaho it would cost $541. That spread of $1,737 is entirely down to location.
At Montana's rate this single pool pump accounts for roughly 42% of a typical household's entire annual electricity bill. It is not a rounding error on your statement - it is one of the largest single line items in it.
Montana sits below the national average, so this pool pump costs slightly less to run here than it would for a typical US household. How you use it will move the number far more than where you live.
Retail service in Montana is regulated, so most households pay a tariff set through state rate cases rather than a shopped rate. The state average is a reasonable proxy, though your utility's specific tariff still varies.
| Location | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana this page | 14.67¢ | $53.59 | $643 |
| US average | 18.44¢ | $67.36 | $808 |
| Idaho cheapest state | 12.35¢ | $45.11 | $541 |
| Hawaii most expensive | 52.00¢ | $190 | $2,278 |
Montana electricity rate trend
Rates in Montana have moved from 14.81¢ to 14.67¢ per kWh over the last twelve months of published data. Nationally, residential rates rose about 6.2% year over year.
2025-06 to 2026-05 · cents per kWh
About running a pool pump
Single-speed pool pumps are among the largest discretionary loads in a home. Variable-speed models running longer at lower speed use dramatically less energy for the same filtration.
What actually changes the cost
- At typical use this is a major load - around 4,380 kWh a year. Efficiency upgrades here pay back faster than on any small appliance.
- Models vary widely, from about 750W to 2500W. Check the nameplate on your own unit rather than assuming an average, because the spread is more than 2x.
- If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, shifting this load off-peak can cut its cost substantially without using any less energy.
How we worked this out
The arithmetic is simple and we would rather show it than hide it. Divide watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours of use and by the duty cycle to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your rate:
1500W ÷ 1000 × 8h = 12.000 kWh/day × 14.67¢ = $1.760 per day
One honest caveat: Montana’s figure is a state average published by the EIA. Your own utility’s tariff, any time-of-use pricing, fixed monthly service charges and local taxes all shift the real number. Put your actual per-kWh rate into the calculator above for a figure that reflects your bill.
Questions about pool pump running costs
How many watts does a pool pump use?
A typical pool pump draws about 1500 watts while running, with most models falling between 750W and 2500W. Check the nameplate label or manual for your specific unit - the range is wide enough that averages can mislead.
How much electricity does a pool pump use per day?
At around 8 hours of use a day and a 100% duty cycle, that works out to roughly 12 kWh per day, or about 360 kWh a month. Your actual figure depends on your usage and model.
Why does the cost differ so much between states?
Residential electricity rates across the US range from about 12.35 cents per kWh in North Dakota to 46.62 cents in Hawaii - nearly a fourfold difference. The same pool pump, used identically, therefore costs almost four times as much to run in the most expensive state as in the cheapest.
Is it cheaper to run a pool pump at night?
Only if you are on a time-of-use or variable tariff. On a flat rate, the time of day makes no difference to cost. If you are on time-of-use pricing, off-peak hours are typically materially cheaper, and shifting this load can reduce its cost without reducing usage.