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 | R2.71/kWh | 36.9 kWh | 3.7 |
| Eskom Homelight 60A | R3.44/kWh | 29.1 kWh | 2.9 |
| City Power (Johannesburg) | R3.06/kWh R3.06-R4.00/kWh steps | 32.7 kWh | 3.3 |
| City of Cape Town | R3.91/kWh R3.91-R4.65/kWh steps | 25.6 kWh | 2.6 |
| City of Tshwane (Pretoria) | R3.42/kWh R3.42-R4.70/kWh steps | 29.2 kWh | 2.9 |
| eThekwini (Durban) | R3.77/kWh | 26.5 kWh | 2.7 |
| Ekurhuleni | R2.97/kWh R2.97-R11.99/kWh steps | 33.7 kWh | 3.4 |
* 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 10 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 are usually higher than Eskom direct supply. Cape Town Domestic prepaid is about R3.91/kWh for the first 600 kWh (VAT-inclusive estimate). City Power (Johannesburg) residential prepaid high IBT starts at about R3.06/kWh on the first 350 kWh of the month and steps up on higher blocks. City Power prepaid customers also pay roughly R200/month in service and network capacity charges, which are not included in the per-kWh figure. Indigent / prepaid LOW blocks in City Power are slightly cheaper. eThekwini Durban uses a single flat rate of R3.77/kWh (no block structure). Tshwane and Ekurhuleni use stepped block tariffs with rates rising sharply at higher consumption levels.
Heads-up: Eskom's 8.76% increase took effect 1 April 2026. Once Eskom publishes the FY 2026/27 schedule, expect Homelight 20A to rise to roughly R2.71/kWh and Homelight 60A to about R3.43/kWh. We are tracking these and will update this page when the official figures are published. Municipal rates next change on 1 July 2026.
| Provider | Tariff Structure | R100 Gets You |
|---|---|---|
| Eskom Homelight 20A | Flat rate: R2.71/kWh | 36.9 kWh |
| Eskom Homelight 60A | Flat rate: R3.44/kWh | 29.1 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) | Flat rate: R3.77/kWh | 26.5 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.
Why R100 buys 50%+ fewer units later in the billing month
Most municipalities reset block tariffs on the 1st of the month. Your first top-up is on the cheapest block; subsequent purchases roll into more expensive blocks. The visualisation below shows how the same R100 progressively buys fewer units across the blocks of each provider. This is the single biggest reason your R100 can buy 30 kWh in week one and only 8 kWh by the end of the month.
- First 350 kWh32.7 kWhR3.06/kWh
- 351 - 500 kWh28.5 kWhR3.51/kWh
- Above 500 kWh25 kWhR4.00/kWh
- First 600 kWh25.6 kWhR3.91/kWh
- Above 600 kWh21.5 kWhR4.65/kWh
- First 100 kWh29.2 kWhR3.42/kWh
- 101 - 400 kWh25 kWhR4.00/kWh
- 401 - 650 kWh22.9 kWhR4.36/kWh
- Above 650 kWh21.3 kWhR4.70/kWh
- First 600 kWh33.7 kWhR2.97/kWh
- 601 - 700 kWh21.6 kWhR4.64/kWh
- Above 700 kWh8.3 kWhR11.99/kWh
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.
Why do the same Rands buy different units in different places? Seven things change the answer: your municipality, tariff code, inclining block tariffs, fixed monthly charges (City Power adds R200/month), the channel you buy through (Shoprite added a 1.3% fee in November 2025), sub-meter resellers, and whether your account is in arrears. Read the full guide on why your R100 buys different units.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units of electricity for R100?
For R100 on Eskom Homelight prepaid (direct supply), you get approximately 36.9 kWh units at the flat rate of R2.49/kWh. Municipal results vary because most municipal prepaid tariffs use block pricing - for a first-in-month estimate R100 buys about 25.6 kWh on City of Cape Town and about 26.5 kWh on eThekwini Durban rates. At a typical urban household usage of 10 kWh/day, R100 of Eskom electricity lasts about 3.7 days. High-use homes with electric geysers and pool pumps (around 18-20 kWh/day) work through it in 2 days.
How many units of electricity for R200?
For R200 on Eskom direct supply, you get approximately 73.8 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 184.5 kWh. This would last about 6 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 (VAT-inclusive estimates): City Power Joburg prepaid high about R3.06-R4.00/kWh by block; Cape Town Domestic R3.91-R4.65/kWh; Tshwane R3.42-R4.70/kWh; eThekwini Durban a flat R3.77/kWh; Ekurhuleni Tariff A2 R2.97/kWh on the first 600 kWh, jumping to R4.64/kWh above 600 and R11.99/kWh above 700 (council policy to push high-use households onto Tariff B). For block tariffs, the rate you pay depends on how much you already bought this billing 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 10 days at typical urban household usage of 10 kWh/day. Low-usage households (5-7 kWh/day) can stretch this to 14-20 days. Homes with electric geysers and pool pumps (around 18-20 kWh/day) get about 5 days from 100 kWh. 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
Reverse Answers: kWh to Rand
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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