Monthly Electrical Cost-Actual use of Jacuzzi J-345

[h20Operator]

When searching for a hot tub to buy I was intrigued by the electrical cost estimates from the manufactures and from the CEC.  I saved my electrical bills from months I did not operate my home air conditioner and placed information in a table.  See attached table for comparison of electrical cost with and without Jacuzzi on operation.  I know that the information in the table has some variables and assumptions but my 30 years in operations and management of water utility systems has given me experience on how to interpret data and draw conclusions. 

The CEC electrical costs estimates  provided by many brands of hot tubs may not fairly depict actual monthly operating cost.  Expect to pay more and enjoy your hot tub.

I live in Southern Oregon and my cost per kwh is near $0.10

2012 Jacuzzi J-345 Electrical Usage table and Costs - Actual  (My apologies for formatting I was no able to import table into forum.  If anyone has suggestions how to use the insert image tool on the forum I would be happy to insert a better table.)

  Year/                         Increased   Increase/              Cost/   Increased cost with
 Month   Avg Temp   Total kwh   Days/Bill    kwh    kwh/Day   Cost/day       Month   Jacuzzi/month
11-Oct   59            934                  $          3.32     $     96.28    
12-Oct   60           1316   29   382   13.2      $           5.00     $   145.00     $                             48.72
                                
11-Nov   45           985                  $          2.91     $   101.85    
12-Nov   47           1327   35   342   9.8      $          4.03     $   141.05     $                             39.20
                                
11-Dec   35           971                  $          3.35     $   110.55    
12-Dec   38           1345   33   374   11.3      $          4.39     $   144.87     $                             34.32
                                
12-Jan   39          1017                  $          3.39     $     94.92    
13-Jan   35          1140   28   123   4.4      $          4.54     $   127.12     $                             32.20
                                
12-Feb   43          836                               $          3.15     $     91.35    
13-Feb   40          1154   29   318   11.0      $          4.42     $   128.18     $                             36.83
                                
12-Mar   43          822                               $          3.00     $     87.00    
13-Mar   47         1049   29   227   7.8      $          3.98     $   115.42     $                             28.42
                                
12-Apr   53         845                               $          3.41     $     98.89    
13-Apr   53         1019   29   174   6.0      $          3.85     $   111.65     $                             12.76
                                
12-May   60         1041                  $          3.73     $   130.55    
13-May   61         1574   35   533   15.2      $          5.01     $   175.35     $                             44.80

Avg   47.38        1054.29   30.29   277.14   9.07                         ---    ---    $                             33.21
   
      
                                          
Notes:                        
Table depicts increased cost of operating a J-345 Jacuzzi at 101-102 degrees with five (5) 20 minutes uses per week.                        
Jacuzzi installed in August of 2012.  Compared electrical usage from October 2012 to May 2013.                        
Comparison of prior year/month electrical bill staring October 2011                        
                          
                                     Months      Total      
8 months of year average monthly cost is:           $34.66   x   8    $277.28       
4 month summer operation cost assumption is:     $20.00   x   4    $80.00       
                        
   Total Estimated Annual cost for electricity          $357.28       
                        
Jacuzzi monthly electrical cost estimate at 60 degrees                        
                                $15.34   X   12    $184.08       
                        
Buyer beware on all Hot tubs.  Expect to pay more to operate!      Difference    $173.20       
                        
See Jacuzzi  flyer P/N 2890-560 for energy efficient facts.                          
                        
Test was done by the CEC test protocol                        
Spa temperature was  101 F and kwh rate was $0.10                        
                        
The CEC is not a valid resource for any Hot tub brand for estimating monthly electrical costs.  "My opinion"                    

Never the less enjoy your hot tub and expect to pay more than what the CEC monthly estimate for electrical costs.                        

[TwinCitiesHotSpring]

so your telling me sales literature is not 100% spot on? I'm stunned, lol  ....In all seriousness though unless your using an appliance meter to single out the spa from the rest of your home your numbers don't hold much weight in my opinion if your just going off your "total" monthly bill.  Bottom line is your top tier brands (Hot Spring, Sundance, Jacuzzi, etc) will all be pretty efficient in the grand scheme of things...the approx. $1.00 a day is well worth what you get out of a spa imo...enjoy

[d00nut]

The energy efficiency sell sheets are just clever marketing.  I just looked at the Jacuzzi one, and if you read the fine print (which, no one does...) it says in standby mode, with the cover on!  My point... why would you buy a spa if you were to never use it? 

To that point, not every energy efficiency sheet is like that.  The Hot Spring one says their test was done with use intended.  6 times per week, 15 minutes jets on, 15 minutes jets off. 

Either way, they both amount to be very similar.  Both very efficient.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

The CEC doesn't test spas....they simply republish the information as provide by the manufacturers...and even if the results are completely honest, the testing procedures are in no way a real world test.

A few years ago, a buddy on mine was an engineer at a spa manufacturer. At the time he was working on trying to get their spas to pass CEC guidelines. Spas were being tested in an indoor temperature controlled enviroment. they were very easily able to get an operating cost in 24 hours of testing. Long story short, I asked him grab a fan out his office and direct it at a spa. Called him a couple of days later. Laughing, he refused to give me any information, other than there would NEVER be another fan in the test room. E V E R

[vangoghsear]

The CEC doesn't test spas....they simply republish the information as provide by the manufacturers...and even if the results are completely honest, the testing procedures are in no way a real world test.

A few years ago, a buddy on mine was an engineer at a spa manufacturer. At the time he was working on trying to get their spas to pass CEC guidelines. Spas were being tested in an indoor temperature controlled enviroment. they were very easily able to get an operating cost in 24 hours of testing. Long story short, I asked him grab a fan out his office and direct it at a spa. Called him a couple of days later. Laughing, he refused to give me any information, other than there would NEVER be another fan in the test room. E V E R

As a mechanical engineering designer, I loved this story.  

[Flyonthewall]

although this method can't produce exact usage costs i like applaud the effort.  any of us who have lived in a house for an extended period have a good idea what the energy costs are (except when the rats raise the prices).  we are creatures of habit and over time things wash out pretty even. 
i just retired my 16 yr old jetsetter this month so i'll get a very good idea what it was costing in the months to come.