How Much Electricity Does a Pool Pump Use? (SE Queensland Guide)

So many pool owners don't really know how much electricity their pool pump uses.

A typical pool in Australia with a pump and chlorinator draws 1.1kW. Run for an average of 8 hours a day at SE Queensland's current electricity rate of around 33 cents per kWh, a common 1.1kW pump and chlorinator combination costs roughly $1,100 a year — just to keep the water moving.

If that number surprises you, you're not alone

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Here's how to calculate yours, and what you can actually do about it.

How many watts does a pool pump use?

Pool pumps in Australian homes typically range from 750W to 2,500W. Most suburban pools run a single-speed pump somewhere between 900W and 1,500W.

The label on your pump will show the wattage — look for a number followed by W or kW.

If it shows horsepower, multiply by 745 to convert. A 1.5hp pump is 1,120W.

Your chlorinator adds to the total. Most domestic chlorinators draw between 200W and 400W depending on cell size and water temperature. If you can't find the figure, use 200W for a small pool and 400W for a large one.

Add them together to get your pool's total draw. A common combination — 900W pump plus 200W chlorinator — totals 1,100W, or 1.1kW.

Calculating your daily and annual cost

The formula is simple:

Kilowatts x hours running per day x electricity rate = daily cost

Using our 1.1kW example at SE Queensland's rate of 33 cents per kWh:

• Running 6 hours per day: $2.17/day — $795/year

• Running 8 hours per day: $2.90/day — $1,059/year

• Running 10 hours per day: $3.63/day — $1,324/year

Most pool owners have no idea how many hours their pump is actually running. If you set it and forgot about it, it's probably running more than it needs to.

Does time of day matter?

It may — if you're on a time-of-use tariff with a smart meter.

SE Queensland retailers offer plans where off-peak electricity (typically overnight and midday) costs significantly less than peak rates in the late afternoon and evening.

Running your pool pump during peak hours instead of off-peak can mean paying 40–50% more for the same filtration. Most timers don't know what time of day costs more. TED does.

What about solar?

If you have solar panels, the cheapest time to run your pool is during the middle of the day when your panels are generating. But the sun doesn't keep a fixed schedule — cloud cover, season, and weather all shift when your solar generation actually peaks.

TED tracks your location and weather forecast to straddle your solar generation window precisely, shifting the schedule automatically when rain or cloud is forecast.

How much are you actually spending?

Check your pump's wattage label, estimate how many hours it runs each day, and multiply by 0.33. Most SE Queensland pool owners are spending between $800 and $1,200 a year — before they do anything about it.

Reduce it automatically with TED

TED is a smart pool pump controller that schedules your pump around off-peak tariffs, solar generation, and weather — automatically. No manual adjustments, no guessing.

SE Queensland pool owners can currently get TED through the Energex trial for a fully refundable $49 deposit. Visit togetherenergy.com/seqldlp to find out more. If you're outside the trial area, TED is available to buy now at togethernrg.com.