Most articles about hot tub running costs use the national average price of electricity. In New Jersey, that number is not much use to you. We pay meaningfully more than the national average, and two Healthmate customers running the identical spa can see different bills depending on which utility serves their address.
So instead of one number, here is how the cost actually breaks down, what drives it, and how to work out a figure for your own house.
The three costs that make up your monthly total
Every hot tub has the same three ongoing costs:
- Electricity to heat the water and run the pumps
- Water care, meaning the chemicals or salt cartridges plus filters
- Service, meaning periodic maintenance and the occasional repair
Electricity is the one people ask about, and it is also the one you have the most control over.
Electricity: why New Jersey owners pay more than the averages you see online
New Jersey residential electricity has run consistently above the national average in recent years. Statewide figures published in 2026 put the average residential rate in the low twenty cents per kilowatt hour range, against a national average in the high teens.
PSE&G, JCP&L, and what your rate really is
The spread inside New Jersey matters as much as the gap to the national number. PSE&G serves much of central and northern New Jersey, including the Green Brook and Somerset County area, and its all in residential rate has been reported near the mid twenty cents range. JCP&L serves large parts of central and coastal New Jersey, including Toms River, and has generally come in lower.
Two things follow from that. First, if you moved here from another state, budget higher than whatever you paid before. Second, do not use a rate you found online. Pull out your bill, find the total amount charged, divide it by the kilowatt hours used, and you have your real all in rate including delivery, supply, and every rider. That is the number to do this math with.
A worked example, with the assumptions spelled out
The math is simple once you have two inputs:
Monthly kilowatt hours used by the spa, multiplied by your all in rate per kilowatt hour, equals your monthly energy cost.
As an illustration only: a spa using 250 kilowatt hours in a month, at 23 cents per kilowatt hour, costs about $58 for that month. The same spa at 26 cents costs about $65. In summer, when the heater is barely working, the same spa may use less than half that.
The reason we are not giving you one flat monthly figure is that the kilowatt hour number depends heavily on the specific spa, how well it is insulated, how warm you keep it, and how often you are in it. Ask us for the specifications on the model you are considering and we will run the numbers against your own rate.
Winter versus summer: the seasonal swing
New Jersey winters are the whole story here. In July the ambient air is close to your set temperature and the heater has almost nothing to do. In January it is fighting a thirty or forty degree gap around the clock.
Expect your spa’s energy use to be at its highest in December through February and at its lowest in July and August. That is also the season most owners use their spa the most, which is worth knowing before you look at a January bill and worry something is broken.
The seven things that actually move your energy number
Cover condition and fit
This is the biggest single variable, and the one most owners ignore. Heat leaves through the surface of the water, and the cover is the only thing stopping it. A cover that has absorbed water, lost its foam density, or no longer seals at the edges can add a substantial amount to a winter bill. If your cover is heavy to lift, sagging in the middle, or letting steam escape at the seams, it is costing you money every night.
A replacement cover is one of the few upgrades that pays for itself. A cover lifter also helps indirectly, because a cover that is easy to handle is a cover that gets closed properly.
Cabinet and shell insulation
How a spa is insulated is the main difference between the value tier and the premium tier in energy terms. Fully insulated cabinets hold heat far better in a New Jersey January than partially insulated ones. This is worth asking about model by model rather than assuming, and it is one of the reasons the cheapest spa is not always the cheapest spa.
Set temperature and how often you use it
Every degree you set costs something to hold. Many owners run around 100 to 102 degrees rather than the maximum, and never notice the difference in the water. Turning the spa down when you travel makes sense. Turning it off entirely usually does not, because reheating from cold takes more energy than holding temperature, and in winter it exposes your plumbing to freezing.
The other four
- Where the spa sits. A spa in an exposed, windy corner loses more heat than one tucked against the house or behind a screen.
- Filter condition. A clogged filter makes the pump work harder for less flow.
- Water level. Low water means the heater and pump cycle inefficiently and can trip out.
- Freeze protection cycles. In deep cold your spa will circulate on its own to protect the plumbing. That is the system doing its job, not a fault.
Water care: what a year of chemicals costs
Water care is a modest cost next to electricity, but it is a recurring one. You are buying sanitizer, balancers, a clarifier or non foaming agent as needed, test strips, and replacement filters on a schedule.
Two ways to make it predictable. Our water care subscription program ships what your spa needs on a schedule so you are not making an unplanned trip, and everything is also available in the e-store.
Salt systems versus traditional water care
A salt system generates sanitizer in the water rather than having you add it manually. You buy cartridges on a cycle instead of chlorine or bromine. Owners generally find it lower effort and easier on the water feel. Whether it works out cheaper depends on your fill water and how often you drain, which is worth a conversation rather than a blanket answer.
Service and maintenance over the life of the spa
A well maintained spa needs very little. Filters get replaced, water gets drained and refilled a few times a year, and jets and seals eventually wear. Beyond that, most of what we see in the service department comes from neglected water chemistry rather than mechanical failure.
If you would rather not think about it, our valet service handles draining, cleaning, refilling, and balancing for you. We service everything we sell, and we can schedule service on most makes.
How to lower your running cost without using the tub less
- Check your cover honestly, and replace it if it is waterlogged or no longer sealing
- Set the temperature to what you actually enjoy rather than the maximum
- Keep the filter clean and replace it on schedule
- Rinse and reset rather than draining more often than needed
- Look at your electricity supply. New Jersey has a deregulated market, so comparing supply rates is worth an hour of your time regardless of the hot tub
- Block the prevailing wind with a fence panel, screen, or planting
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to leave a hot tub on all the time or turn it off?
Leaving it on at your normal temperature is almost always cheaper and safer than letting it cool and reheating. Reheating a full spa from cold takes significant energy, and in a New Jersey winter an unheated spa risks freeze damage to the plumbing. Turn it down a few degrees if you are away, rather than off.
How much does a hot tub add to a New Jersey electric bill in winter?
More than in summer, sometimes double or better. The heater is holding a thirty to forty degree gap against the outside air around the clock in January versus almost nothing in July. Multiply your spa’s monthly kilowatt hours by your all in rate from your bill to get your own figure.
Does a new cover really reduce energy use?
Yes, and it is usually the highest return fix available. Nearly all standby heat loss goes through the water surface, so a cover that has waterlogged or lost its seal is the most expensive thing in your backyard. If it is hard to lift or steam escapes at the edges, it is past due.
Should I drain my hot tub for the winter in New Jersey?
Only if you are shutting it down properly, which means a full winterization with the lines cleared. Water left sitting in an unheated spa through a New Jersey winter can freeze and crack plumbing. Most owners run their spa straight through the winter, which is when it is best anyway.
How much does hot tub water care cost per year?
It varies with spa size, use, and whether you run a salt system or traditional chemicals. It is a small fraction of your electricity cost. A subscription plan smooths it into a predictable amount and makes sure you are never out of something on a Saturday.
Want a real number for a specific spa at your address? Request pricing or come see us on Route 22 in Green Brook and bring your electric bill. We will do the math with you. You can also browse our value tier hot tubs or read the full hot tub FAQ.
