Plant Utilities worked example

Utility Pump Energy Cost with pump motor demand of 11 kW: a worked example

This worked example runs the utility pump energy cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: pump motor demand of 11 kW instead of the typical 22 kW. Estimate pump electricity cost for cooling water, process water, condensate, or utility transfer service.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Pump motor demand: 11 kW (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 22)
  • Pump runtime: 400 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Electricity rate: 0.1 $ / kWh (held at the documented default)
  • Gallons moved: 1,800 kgal (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Total utility pump energy cost = pump motor demand × pump runtime × electricity rate.
  • Total utility pump energy cost works out to 440 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Utility Pump Energy Cost energy used works out to 4,400 kWh at these inputs.
  • Cost per production unit works out to 0.24 $ / unit at these inputs.
  • Hourly utility pump energy cost works out to 1.1 $ / hr at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where pump motor demand sits at 22 kW and the headline result is 880 $, this scenario comes in 50% below the baseline at 440 $.
  • Use it during energy audits, when sizing a VFD retrofit, or when allocating pumping cost to a specific transfer, cooling loop, or production line. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total utility pump energy cost: 440 $ (headline result)
  • Utility Pump Energy Cost energy used: 4,400 kWh
  • Cost per production unit: 0.24 $ / unit
  • Hourly utility pump energy cost: 1.1 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Utility Pump Energy Cost calculator, set pump motor demand to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.