SPA

The cost of operating a spa, including heating water and running pumps, is highly variable and depends on a number of factors, including these:

• Type of spa (configuration, capacity, insulation, number and size of pumps)
• Conditions of use (temperature setting, amount of time used)
• Weather conditions (temperature, wind)

Because all these outside factors may come into play, it is very hard to determine a typical cost of use.

	Estimated annual consumption	Estimated annual heating cost
Above-ground spa (6 ft. x 4 ft. x 2.5 ft.)	7,167 kWh/year	$522.47/year*
Octagonal in-ground spa (8 ft. x 2.75 ft.)	2,583 kWh/year	$188.30/year*

*Rate D average: 7.29¢/kWh

Data and assumptions used for estimate:

• Spa is used 30 minutes a day, 365 days a year.
• Water temperature is 40°C when spa is in use.
• Heating element is turned off when spa is not in use.
• Spa has an insulated cover (R-12).
• Pump operating cost is not included in calculations.

Source: BC Hydro study, revised in 2008, that established the typical annual consumption for the electrical heating of outdoor spas in a location with a climate similar to Montréal?s.