Powerbill/Appliance costs

What does a pool heat pump cost to run?

In New Zealand, a typical pool heat pump running at its typical daily hours costs around $133/month at the current national average rate of 40.6c/kWh. Heat pump pool heaters use 3-5× less electricity than electric resistance heaters

Monthly cost
$133
national average
Annual cost
$1600
12 months at current rate
Cost per hour of use
$0.73
nameplate wattage × rate
Cost by regionMBIE Feb 2026
RegionRateMonthly
Queenstown40.3c/kWh$132
Dunedin39.6c/kWh$130
Christchurch36.6c/kWh$120
See this in the full calculator

Frequently asked

How much does a pool heat pump cost to run in NZ?

At the national average electricity rate of 40.6c/kWh, a typical pool heat pump costs about $133 per month, or $1600 per year. Actual costs vary by region and how heavily you use it.

Which NZ region has the cheapest pool heat pump running cost?

Of the five centres shown on this page, Christchurch is the cheapest at $120/month, and Queenstown is the most expensive at $132/month. The 30% spread reflects regional MBIE retail rates.

Wattages and usage defaults from Consumer NZ, EECA Genless and Frugal Kiwi. Regional pricing from the MBIE Quarterly Survey of Domestic Electricity Prices, last updated 2026-02-15.