If you have a swimming pool at your place (lucky you), there’s a good chance it’s to blame for around 10-20% of your overall power bill. So, you’d look to reduce this impact as much as you could, right? After all, you’d rather ‘splash the cash’ on something else!
Our MoveMaster plan is awesome because it rewards our customers for using electricity at off-peak times, including half price rates overnight (11pm-7am). This is great for saving cash but also pretty sweet because using power away from the peak period means it’s more likely to be coming from renewable sources. Win-win for the environment AND your budget.
It works out particularly well if you have a pool pump to run. The difference between some all-inclusive power rates and our half price overnight rates on MoveMaster can be huge. We encourage customers to shift as much usage off-peak as possible to reduce their overall bills but the savings are especially appealing when you specifically look at the cost of running the pool pump.
Here’s a quick example to make our point, using our MoveMaster overnight rate compared to a competitive all-day rate you could get somewhere else (we’re using a decent rate here when we could easily show an expensive one to really make the point). These calcs assume your pool pump uses about 2,000kWh of electricity per year.
| Kilowatt hour (kWh) per year | 2,000kWh | 2,000kWh |
| Electricity usage charge | MoveMaster (0.1698c/kWh) | Example rate (0.2915c/kWh) |
| Annual running cost | $339.60 | $583.00 |
Example only, check prices for current MoveMaster rates.
Pool pump power usage can vary significantly depending on the type and size, as well as the pump’s energy efficiency, how long it’s used every day and if the pool is heated or not, but we think this is a reasonable guide. You can replicate these calcs yourself if you know your pump’s annual kWh consumption (it’s simply x kWh multiplied by the rate).
Rethinking the time you heat your spa could also save you a bundle.
Which pool pump is cheapest to run?
Pool pumps come in all different shapes and sizes, so give it some thought before diving in. Here are the most common types of pump pumps.
- Single speed: Generally the most affordable to buy outright, but the most expensive to run because it only operates one speed.
- Dual speed: This type has two different speeds with varying outputs, meaning lower speeds use less energy but usually take more time to run.
- Multiple/variable speed: This is the latest technology in pool pumps that allow users to adjust and control the speed, making them more affordable to run.
How long should you run your pool pump?
A pool pump will typically need to run for between six and eight hours each day, but this will depend on how long it takes to circulate, clean and filter the water.
Pool pumps might need to run for longer in summer compared to winter, as seasonal factors come into play, like climate and foliage in the pool. Finally, how much activity your pool gets and if you have a pool cover can also affect the time it takes to properly clean.
Master your pool pump with MoveMaster
If you have a swimming pool, your pool pump is almost certainly going to be one of the most energy-draining appliances at your place, very likely the most of all. That’s the price you pay for that lifestyle! So, it’s worth limiting the impact it has on your overall power bill as much as possible, which means paying a decent rate for the consumption and only running the pump at the cheapest times. That’s where our MoveMaster plan shines.
There are lots to love about MoveMaster, but if you have a pool, the half price overnight rates will go down swimmingly.
Have you got a spa pool? Learn how to save on spa pool heating costs with Movemaster.
