Keep Your Electric Bill on the Shallow End

Pools are great to help beat the California heat, but they can suck up and waste a lot of energy, increasing your electric bill.

California has more than 1.3 million residential swimming pools and about 15,000 more installed each year. If you have a pool, the pump is probably the largest electric motor in your home, consuming quite a bit of energy - second only to your air conditioner or heat pump.

Using energy efficiently during pool operations can make a big difference. With a few small adjustments, you can stop your pool pump from working so hard - saving you money.

"You can save energy on nearly any budget," said Robert Hagstrom, an engineer with SCE's Energy Education Center. "Many upgrades are simple, they end up paying for themselves and save you money on your monthly bill. It's all about making smart investments."

Making sure your pool pump and filter are running efficiently can save you money and energy.

Some easy, low-cost pool tips:

• Adjust yourvariable frequency drivepump. This allows your pool pump to move slower and use less electricity.
• Change your filtration schedule. Run the pump during early mornings and late at night when electricity rates are lower.
• Make sure pipes are properly sized and shaped. Avoid fittings that can slow water flow.
• Make sure the pump speed is optimized for your pool size to keep the water clean and safe; consult a pool specialist for precise recommendations.

• Add a pool cover and skim your pool regularly. Keeping debris out of the pool reduces strain on the filtration system, saving energy and money.
• Clean the filters regularly or install larger ones.

Other pool maintenance tips:

• Use the most energy-efficient pump for your pool size. ENERGY STAR-rated pumps can save $300 or more in lower electricity bills over their lifetime.
• Switch to an automated pool pump. Using smart controls on a Time-Of-Use rate plan can save an estimated $1,131 over the average life of the pump.
• Purchase a low-pressure drop filter to reduce pump workload and save energy.

Starting in September 2025, a new California rule will take pool efficiency one step further. All residential pool pumps and heaters sold in the state will need smart devices that automate filtering and heating, ensuring the equipment use energy more efficiently.

California is the first state in the nation to adopt these Flexible Demand Appliance Standards (FDAS) for residential pool controls.

When all pool pumps in California are fitted with these devices, more than 390,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions could be avoided. That's equal to removing 85,000 gas-powered cars from the road.

And, in a separate decision last month, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, adopted an emissions-reduction rule requiring pool and hot tub owners to go electric. New gas-powered pool heaters will be phased out starting in 2028 and existing ones will need to be replaced with zero-emission equipment starting in 2031.