Prepaid Electricity Calculator

How many units does R100 of prepaid electricity buy in South Africa?

At the current Eskom Homelight Prepaid rate of 271 cents per kWh (effective April 2026), R100 buys approximately 36.9 kWh of electricity. The exact amount depends on whether you are on the Eskom tariff or a municipal tariff — municipalities charge more because they add a distribution markup on top of Eskom's bulk supply cost.

What is the current prepaid electricity rate per kWh in South Africa?

The Eskom Homelight Prepaid tariff is 271 cents (R2.71) per kWh, effective 1 April 2026. This is the rate for residential customers billed directly by Eskom — mainly peri-urban and some rural areas. If you buy prepaid electricity through a municipality (City Power, Cape Town, eThekwini, Tshwane, etc.), your rate will be higher. Typical municipal prepaid rates in 2026 range from approximately R2.80 to R3.50/kWh depending on the city.

Why does my prepaid electricity run out so fast?

The biggest culprit in most South African homes is the electric geyser — it draws 3,000W and can account for 30–40% of your total electricity bill. Running a geyser for two hours uses 6 kWh, which at R2.71/kWh costs about R16.26. Other high consumers include electric stoves (3,000W for all plates), tumble dryers (2,000W), and bar heaters (2,000W). Switching off or reducing geyser temperature from 70°C to 55°C is the single highest-impact change most households can make.

What is the difference between Eskom prepaid and municipal prepaid?

Eskom supplies electricity in bulk to municipalities, which then distribute it to homes and businesses in their area. Municipalities add their own distribution markup, maintenance costs, and infrastructure charges before reselling the electricity to residents. This is why municipal prepaid rates are always higher than the Eskom Homelight rate. Customers in areas with no local municipality — mainly parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Northern Cape — are billed directly by Eskom at the Homelight Prepaid tariff.

Does the price include VAT?

Yes — the Eskom Homelight Prepaid tariff of 271 cents per kWh is the VAT-inclusive consumer price. You do not pay additional VAT on top of this amount when buying prepaid tokens. The 15% VAT is already factored into the rate.

How much electricity does a typical South African household use per day?

Usage varies significantly by household size and appliance use. A small flat with 1–2 people using mostly lights, a fridge, and a TV might use 5–8 kWh/day. An average home with 3–4 people, an electric geyser, and normal cooking uses roughly 15–20 kWh/day. Larger homes or those with high geyser, stove, and heating use can exceed 25–35 kWh/day. Stats SA household surveys suggest the national average for electrified households is approximately 700–900 kWh per month.

How is the electricity tariff set and when does it change?

Eskom's tariffs are set annually by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) through the Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD) process. Increases typically take effect on 1 April each year. The most recent increase — 8.76% for FY2026/2027 — was approved by NERSA and took effect 1 April 2026. Municipal tariffs update on 1 July each year and are approved by NERSA separately.

What is free basic electricity (FBE) and do I qualify?

Free Basic Electricity (FBE) is a government programme that provides 50 kWh of free electricity per month to qualifying low-income households. To qualify, your household must be registered as indigent with your local municipality or Eskom. Not all municipalities implement FBE at the same level — some provide the full 50 kWh, others provide fewer units or a cash subsidy. Contact your local municipality's indigent office to apply.