Direct answer and the formula
Annual electricity cost equals annual ice output
in 100-pound units, multiplied by the machine's
kWh-per-100-lb rating and the electricity price per kWh.
Separately calculate potable-water cost using gallons per
100 lb and the water/sewer price per 1,000 gallons.
Annual electricity = (lb/day × operating days / 100)
× kWh/100 lb × price/kWh
Annual potable water = (lb/day × operating days / 100)
× gal/100 lb × price/1,000 gal / 1,000
Use Leivro's interactive
ENERGY STAR model comparison calculator →.
A fully labelled illustrative scenario
Consider an illustrative scenario, not a rated model
or vendor quotation: 250 lb of ice per operating day,
300 days per year, a hypothetical efficiency of 5.0 kWh
per 100 lb, 15 US gallons of potable water per 100 lb,
electricity at $0.20/kWh, and water plus sewer at
$12 per 1,000 US gallons.
| Step | Calculation |
Illustrative result |
|---|
| Annual output | 250 × 300 | 75,000 lb |
| 100-lb units | 75,000 / 100 | 750 |
| Electricity usage | 750 × 5.0 | 3,750 kWh |
| Electricity cost | 3,750 × $0.20 | $750 |
| Potable water use | 750 × 15 | 11,250 US gal |
| Potable-water cost | 11,250 / 1,000 × $12 | $135 |
| Combined rated utility estimate | $750 + $135 | $885/year |
These values are educational assumptions, not current utility
tariffs or claims for any specific ENERGY STAR product. They
exclude installation, purchase, service and unmeasured site use.
Why an ice maker's rated capacity is not your daily output
An ice machine marketed by its rated harvest capacity
may produce less at higher ambient or inlet-water temperatures.
Use realistic planned production for the cost calculation;
separately verify that the unit can meet peak demand in the
intended space and includes sufficient ice storage.
Different ice types, condenser designs and test configurations
should not be compared as if identical.
Source: ENERGY STAR commercial ice makers
and its product criteria.
Costs the kWh and potable-water rating cannot answer
Annual service, filtration, cleaning chemicals, ice-bin
configuration, delivery, installation, ventilation, repairs,
refrigeration performance outside test conditions, and a
commercial water/sewer tariff can change the total ownership
cost. A utility estimate by itself cannot tell you which
machine is the cheapest to own.
The comparable model-level metrics in Leivro come from
the EPA ENERGY STAR dataset.
For a quotation checklist see our
full commercial
ice maker buying guide →.
