What does a pool cost to run in Beaumont?

Electricity: the Entergy Texas side

Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange buy power from Entergy Texas, which sits on the MISO grid rather than ERCOT, the grid most of Texas uses (Entergy). Its residential Schedule RS charges $14.00 a month plus 8.975¢ per kWh for energy, with use above 1,000 kWh billed at 6.677¢ from November through April. Fuel and riders are added on top (Schedule RS).

Entergy's own sample bill for 1,000 kWh in November 2026 comes to $168.14 before taxes, or about 16.8¢ a kWh once everything is counted (sample bill). For comparison, EIA puts the Texas residential average at 15.91¢ in August 2026 (EIA). A simple rule for your own bill: every 100 kWh the pool equipment uses adds about $17 (our arithmetic).

Why the pump decides the bill

A pool pump runs every day for months, so its efficiency matters more than any other part. ENERGY STAR says a certified in-ground pump uses about 20% less energy than a standard one, saving around $50 a year and paying back in under two years. It also notes that running a pump at half speed uses about one-eighth as much energy (ENERGY STAR). Federal efficiency standards for pool pumps took effect on July 19, 2021 (DOE rule), so a new pool should arrive with a far better pump than one built in 2010.

Ask the builder to set the pump for long, slow runs, saving high speed for vacuuming, a spa or a pressure cleaner. When comparing bids, check the pump model on each equipment list (see our cost guide).

Water: the fill and the top-ups

For FY2026 the City of Beaumont kept water rates flat: on a standard 5/8-inch meter, $16.79 for the first 1,000 gallons and $5.68 for each 1,000 after that (City of Beaumont, via KYKR). Filling a 20,000-gallon pool therefore adds roughly $108 in water charges on top of the base, before any sewer charge the city applies (our arithmetic; ask the utility office whether a pool fill can be billed without sewer).

After the fill, rain does a lot of the topping off here, with about 62 in a year at the airport (NOAA). Evaporation still takes water in dry spells, and EPA WaterSense says a pool cover can prevent up to 95% of it (EPA). A level that drops fast with no hot, dry weather to explain it is a leak worth chasing, for the water bill and for the clay under the deck.

A monthly budget, line by line

National ranges, checked 4 November 2026. Your Entergy rate, pool size and shade change the real figures. Spread over its life, a salt cell works out to about $5–28 a month (our arithmetic).

Five ways to trim the bill

• Buy the efficient pump up front. It is the one line you pay every day.
• Use a cover in dry spells and over winter to cut evaporation and debris.
• Fix leaks fast. Lost water costs money and keeps wetting swelling clay.
• Pick a sanitizer with eyes open. Our salt vs chlorine guide runs the ten-year numbers.
• Follow a seasonal routine. The month-by-month care guide covers storms, freezes and green water.

Common questions