Cost to run a well pump in California (July 2026 rates)
At 33.61¢ per kilowatt-hour — California's average residential price in July 2026 — running a well pump costs $184 a year. That is 84% more than the national average of $100. California's residential rate is up 2.9% from July 2025, which moves this appliance from $179 to $184 a year.
- Per hour
- 33.6¢
- Per day of use
- 50.4¢
- Per month
- $15.33
- Per year
- $184
Assumption: 1,000 W, 1.5 hours a day, 365 days a year — 548 kWh a year. A 1/2 to 3/4 HP submersible pump running about 90 minutes a day for an average household's water use. Use the calculator to swap in the numbers from your own model.
How California compares
California pays 33.61¢/kWh, the 2nd most expensive residential electricity of the 51 U.S. jurisdictions EIA reports. For this appliance that works out to $83.77 more a year than the typical U.S. household pays for the same use. Running the same well pump costs $69.64 a year in Louisiana and $263 in Hawaii, so where you live changes this bill by $193 a year.
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 29.90¢ | $13.64 | $164 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $13.91 | $167 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $14.79 | $177 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $15.33 | $184 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $21.90 | $263 |
States ranked by average residential price, cheapest first. See all 51 states for a well pump.
What else costs about the same in California
Cutting the number down
- A waterlogged pressure tank makes the pump short-cycle, which is hard on the motor and shows up on the bill.
- A running toilet or dripping outdoor spigot runs the pump all night; leaks are the usual explanation for a sudden jump.
Questions
- How much does a well pump cost per month in California?
- About $15.33 a month, assuming 1,000 W, 1.5 hours a day, 365 days a year at 33.61¢/kWh.
- How many kilowatt-hours does a well pump use?
- Roughly 548 kWh a year under these assumptions, or 1.00 kWh for every hour it runs.
- Is that expensive compared with other states?
- California has the 2nd most expensive average residential rate in the country, so this appliance costs more here than the U.S. average of $100 a year.