Prepaid Electricity Calculator South Africa (2026)
How many units of prepaid electricity do you get for your money, or how much will a set number of kWh cost? Select your electricity provider and use either Rand-to-units or kWh-to-rand mode for an instant answer. Updated with 2025/2026 tariff estimates for Eskom, City Power, Cape Town, Tshwane, Durban, and Ekurhuleni.
How Many Units for R100 by Provider
| Provider | Avg R/kWh* | Units | Days* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eskom Homelight 20A | R2.49/kWh | 40.2 kWh | 1.3 |
| Eskom Homelight 60A | R3.16/kWh | 31.6 kWh | 1.1 |
| City Power (Johannesburg) | R3.06/kWh R3.06-R4.00/kWh steps | 32.7 kWh | 1.1 |
| City of Cape Town | R3.91/kWh R3.91-R4.65/kWh steps | 25.6 kWh | 0.9 |
| City of Tshwane (Pretoria) | R3.42/kWh R3.42-R4.70/kWh steps | 29.2 kWh | 1.0 |
| eThekwini (Durban) | R2.24/kWh R2.24-R3.17/kWh steps | 44.6 kWh | 1.5 |
| Ekurhuleni | R2.97/kWh R2.97-R11.99/kWh steps | 33.7 kWh | 1.1 |
* Average R/kWh = your rand amount ÷ kWh for this purchase. For stepped tariffs, the smaller line shows the min-max rate on each block. Days at 30 kWh/day.
Prepaid Electricity Rates in South Africa (2025/2026)
Electricity tariffs in South Africa vary significantly depending on whether you are supplied directly by Eskom or by your local municipality. In April 2025, Eskom restructured its residential Homelight tariff from a 3-block inclining block tariff (IBT) to a single flat rate of R2.49/kWh. This was a major change - previously, the first 350 kWh cost only R1.49/kWh, with higher blocks costing more.
Municipal tariffs remain higher than Eskom direct supply for many households. Cape Town domestic prepaid is about R3.91/kWh for the first 600 kWh (VAT-inclusive estimate). City Power (Johannesburg) residential prepaid high IBT is about R3.06/kWh on the first 350 kWh of the month (VAT-inclusive energy-only estimate), stepping up on higher blocks-prepaid low/indigent blocks differ.
| Provider | Tariff Structure | R100 Gets You |
|---|---|---|
| Eskom Homelight 20A | Flat rate: R2.49/kWh | 40.2 kWh |
| Eskom Homelight 60A | Flat rate: R3.16/kWh | 31.6 kWh |
| City Power (Johannesburg) | R3.06-R4.00/kWh | 32.7 kWh |
| City of Cape Town | R3.91-R4.65/kWh | 25.6 kWh |
| City of Tshwane (Pretoria) | R3.42-R4.70/kWh | 29.2 kWh |
| eThekwini (Durban) | R2.24-R3.17/kWh | 44.6 kWh |
| Ekurhuleni | R2.97-R11.99/kWh | 33.7 kWh |
Rates include VAT (15%) unless noted. Municipal tariffs effective from July 2025. Eskom Homelight effective from April 2025.
How Prepaid Electricity Works
Prepaid electricity lets you purchase electricity tokens before you use them. When you buy, you receive a 20-digit token number that you enter into your prepaid meter. The purchased units (measured in kilowatt-hours or kWh) are loaded onto your meter and decrease as you use electricity.
For Eskom direct supply customers, the tariff is now a simple flat rate - every unit costs the same regardless of how much you use in a month. For most municipal customers, tariffs still use a block/step structure where the rate per kWh increases as your monthly consumption rises.
How to Buy Prepaid Electricity
- Banking apps: FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, and Capitec all offer prepaid electricity purchases in their mobile apps.
- USSD codes: Dial your bank's USSD code (e.g., *120*321# for FNB) and select prepaid electricity.
- Retail stores: Purchase at Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Spar, and other participating retailers. Check this week's specials while you're there.
- Online: Flash, Kazang, and municipal online portals.
You will need your prepaid meter number, found on the meter itself or on a previous purchase receipt.
Tips to Save Electricity
- Set your geyser on a timer: Geysers use up to 40% of household electricity. Heat water for 2-3 hours daily, not 24/7.
- Switch to LED bulbs: LEDs use up to 80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
- Unplug standby appliances: TVs, microwaves, and chargers still draw power when plugged in but off.
- Use cold water for laundry: Modern detergents work effectively in cold water.
- Insulate your ceiling: Reduces heating and cooling costs by up to 40%.
- Set your fridge to 4-5°C: Colder settings waste electricity. Keep it well-stocked and away from heat sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units of electricity for R100?
For R100 on Eskom Homelight prepaid (direct supply), you get approximately 40.2 kWh units at the flat rate of R2.49/kWh. Municipal results can differ because many municipal prepaid tariffs use block pricing, but for a first-in-month estimate R100 buys about 25.6 kWh on City of Cape Town rates. At average household usage of 30 kWh/day, R100 of Eskom electricity lasts about 1.3 days.
How many units of electricity for R200?
For R200 on Eskom direct supply, you get approximately 80.3 kWh. On City Power (Johannesburg prepaid high IBT, VAT-inclusive energy estimate), you get roughly 65 kWh on an early-in-month top-up. Municipal results depend on your tariff code and blocks.
How many units of electricity for R500?
For R500 on Eskom, you get approximately 200.8 kWh. This would last about 7 days at average usage. On Cape Town rates, the same R500 buys only about 128 kWh.
How much is 1 unit (1 kWh) of electricity in South Africa?
As of 2025/2026, 1 unit (1 kWh) of electricity costs R2.49 on the Eskom Homelight 20A prepaid tariff, or R3.16 on Homelight 60A. Municipal rates vary by block and tariff code (often VAT-inclusive for consumers). Example VAT-inclusive energy-only estimates: City Power prepaid high IBT about R3.06-R4.00/kWh by block; Cape Town about R3.91-R4.65/kWh; Tshwane about R3.42-R4.70/kWh; Ekurhuleni Tariff A2 about R2.97-R12.00/kWh across blocks. Your token depends on how much you already bought this month.
How much does 100 kWh cost?
On Eskom Homelight 20A, 100 kWh costs approximately R249. On municipal tariffs, the rand cost can be higher and may vary by block. Use the reverse kWh-to-rand mode in this calculator for a direct estimate.
How long will 100 units of electricity last?
100 units (kWh) will last approximately 3.3 days at average household usage of 30 kWh/day. Low-usage households (10-15 kWh/day) can stretch this to 7-10 days. Homes with electric geysers and heaters may use it in 1-2 days. The biggest electricity users are geysers (up to 40% of usage), stoves, heaters, and pool pumps.
Why did the Eskom tariff structure change in 2025?
In April 2025, Eskom restructured the Homelight prepaid tariff from a 3-block inclining block tariff (IBT) to a single flat rate of R2.49/kWh. This simplified billing but means customers who previously used less than 350 kWh/month now pay more per unit (was R1.49 in Block 1). High-usage customers benefit as they no longer pay the higher Block 2 and Block 3 rates.
Quick Answers: Units by Amount
Disclaimer: Tariff rates are based on publicly available 2025/2026 schedules. Municipal prepaid estimates can vary because many providers use monthly block tariffs, so token results later in the month may differ from the estimate shown here. Always confirm the current rate with your electricity supplier.
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