The table above lists eThekwini's residential tariffs for 2026/27. Durban's structure is unusually simple: almost every household pays one flat rate per unit, with no fixed monthly charge and no blocks. Below: which scale you are on, what changed on 1 July 2026, and why eThekwini's solar rules matter more than the tariff itself. Homes in the metro supplied directly by Eskom follow Eskom's tariffs and Eskom's own solar process instead.
Which eThekwini tariff are you on?
eThekwini calls its tariffs "scales". The scale number appears on your municipal account next to the electricity charge, for example "Residential 1 Phase - Scale 4". For prepaid customers, the scale follows your meter and supply size.
| Scale | Meter type | Typical home (from the City's 2026/27 tariff brochure) | Rate incl. VAT |
|---|
| Scale 3 | Credit (account-billed), three-phase | Large homes with ducted air conditioning, pool and similar loads | 411.09 c/kWh |
| Scale 4 | Credit (account-billed), single-phase | Medium homes, 60 A supply (80 A in certain circumstances) | 411.09 c/kWh |
| Scale 8 | Prepaid, single-phase | Medium to large homes, 60 A supply | 411.09 c/kWh |
| Scale 9 | Prepaid, single-phase | Same as Scale 8, but a 40 A supply | 411.09 c/kWh |
| Scale 13 | Prepaid, three-phase | Large homes, 80 A or 100 A supply | 411.09 c/kWh |
| Scale 12 | Prepaid, Free Basic Electricity | Indigent homes using under 150 kWh a month on average | 267.13 c/kWh, plus 65 kWh free a month |
The point most people miss: prepaid and credit-meter homes pay exactly the same rate. eThekwini builds its service charge into the energy charge, so Scales 3, 4, 8, 9 and 13 all cost 357.47 c/kWh before VAT, or 411.09 c/kWh with VAT, with no separate monthly fee. Choosing prepaid or credit does not change your price per unit.
On Scale 12, the City's brochure says units up to 150 kWh a month are sold at R2.3229 before VAT and anything beyond at the standard R3.5747. The 65 kWh free token is issued once a month and does not carry over.
The tables also include a Residential Time-of-Use tariff for homes using over 1,000 kWh a month, but the City marks it as not active until its smart metering project is in place.
What changed on 1 July 2026
NERSA approved a 9.01% increase in Eskom's bulk tariff to municipalities from 1 July 2026. eThekwini's 2026/27 tariff brochure says the municipality approved an average electricity tariff increase of 9% from the same date. For households, the energy charge on Scales 3, 4, 8, 9 and 13 rose from 327.95 c/kWh to 357.47 c/kWh before VAT, which is 9.00%. The Free Basic Electricity rate rose by the same 9.00%.
That is gentler than recent years: the City's statistics show residential increases of 12.72% in 2025/26, 12.72% in 2024/25 and 15.10% in 2023/24. With a flat tariff, every unit of solar you use yourself is worth the full 411.09 c.
Solar in Durban: registration, metering and net billing
You must register, whether you export or not
eThekwini does not allow any embedded generation to be connected to its grid without an application and the municipality's written consent. This covers solar PV, batteries and generators that run in parallel with the grid. Its 2026/27 brochure is blunt: unregistered systems "are considered unsafe and will attract penalties, including the reversal of any unapproved credits that may have been billed." The City's SSEG pages add that an unregistered system can be fined and disconnected until it is legally registered.
The process, as set out on eThekwini Electricity's embedded generation pages, runs like this:
- Apply online with the supporting documents, including a single-line diagram and the inverter's NRS 097-2-1 certificate.
- The municipality assesses it and may ask for technical studies.
- Once you have written approval and have paid the invoice, install the system.
- Submit the commissioning sign-off, which must come from a Professional Engineer or Professional Technologist.
- The City inspects the site, fits a bi-directional meter and moves you onto the net billing tariff.
If you buy electricity from a landlord or body corporate, that registered municipal customer must apply. Our guide to SSEG registration covers the documents.
Inverters must be NRS 097-2-1 certified
eThekwini only accepts inverters with third-party type-test certificates showing compliance with NRS 097-2-1, and it may refuse certificates for older versions of the standard. Blocking reverse power flow does not exempt you from this. If a battery has its own inverter that can feed your wiring, that inverter must be certified too. Ask your installer for the certificate before anything is bought.
Off-grid, standby and hybrid systems
eThekwini has not closed the door on off-grid systems, but the definitions are strict:
- A hybrid inverter that is physically wired to your distribution board counts as a grid-tied system and needs permission, even if you run it in off-grid mode.
- A truly stand-alone system with no connection to the municipal network still needs permission from the municipal electricity authority, and possibly other departments such as building control.
- A system that only powers part of your wiring after a break-before-make changeover switch isolates it from the grid becomes an "alternative supply" and needs a Certificate of Compliance from a registered person.
Metering costs and prepaid units
Every SSEG customer, including those blocking reverse power flow, must have an approved bi-directional meter, which the municipality supplies and installs at your cost. The City may also require your meter to move to a kiosk in the road reserve. Prepaid meters must be replaced, and the City says unused prepaid units are not refunded when the meter is changed, so use up your units before the new meter goes in.
The net billing tariff: what you pay and what you earn
Once you are on the Residential Net Billing Tariff, three numbers matter:
| Charge | 2026/27 rate |
|---|
| Energy you buy from the grid | 357.47 c/kWh excl. VAT (411.09 c/kWh incl. VAT), the Scale 3 and 4 rate |
| Energy you export (feed-in rate) | 160.52 c/kWh excl. VAT |
| Network Access Charge, per kVA of inverter size, per month | R76.38 excl. VAT (R87.84 incl. VAT) in the final tariff tables |
The 2026/27 brochure prints the Network Access Charge as R76.83 per kVA before VAT, against R76.38 in the final tariff tables, so confirm it on your account. The City's reasoning: the flat energy rate includes grid costs, so when solar cuts your purchases, this charge recovers part of that contribution.
Export credits reduce your municipal electricity account, but eThekwini states they are not redeemable for cash.
What this means for sizing
Three things follow from these rules:
- Use your solar, don't sell it. A unit you use saves 411.09 c. A unit you export earns 160.52 c before VAT. The City's own SSEG guidance recommends moving loads such as geysers and pool pumps to the middle of the day.
- Don't oversize the inverter. The Network Access Charge is billed on inverter kVA, not on what you generate. A 5 kVA inverter attracts R439.20 a month including VAT, and an 8 kVA inverter R702.72 a month (SolarGuide calculations at the final-table rate). Pick the inverter size your loads need.
- Budget for the meter change. The bi-directional meter is at your cost, and the price is set during the application.
Worked example: a 600 kWh Durban home on prepaid Scale 8 (SolarGuide calculation)
This uses the featured Scale 8 prepaid rate from the table above, including VAT.
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|
| Energy | 600 kWh × 411.09 c | R2,466.54 |
| Fixed charge | None on this scale | R0.00 |
| Monthly total | | R2,466.54 |
| All-in price | Flat rate, so the same at any use | 411.09 c/kWh |
Because the rate is flat, the all-in price is the same at 300, 600 or 1,000 kWh a month.
Offsetting 300 kWh with solar. Each unit replaced is worth 411.09 c, so the gross saving is 300 × 411.09 c = R1,233.27 a month.
After moving to net billing. A registered system brings the Network Access Charge. With a 5 kVA inverter that is 5 × R87.84 = R439.20 a month, so the net saving is R1,233.27 − R439.20 = R794.07 a month, plus any export credits at 160.52 c/kWh (R160.52 for every 100 kWh exported, before VAT). With an 8 kVA inverter, the same 300 kWh offset nets R530.55 a month before exports.
These are bill savings at today's rates, not a payback figure. Real results depend on your roof, how much power you use in daylight and what the system costs.
Your next step
Work out your own numbers first. The solar roof-fit calculator estimates what fits on your roof, the geyser cost calculator shows how much of your bill is hot water (often the easiest load to move to midday), and the national tariff tracker compares Durban with other metros. For local context, read our Durban solar guide, our Umhlanga and Ballito guide, and how feed-in tariffs and net billing work.
When you are ready for a firm figure, SolarGuide can put you in touch with Alumo, which installs, finances and warrants the system and can size the inverter to your loads. Alumo's rent-to-own Watt-a-Deal starts from R1,449 a month over seven years (with 6.5% annual escalation), and subscriptions start from R1,499 a month. A site assessment confirms the final system.
Get a free solar quote →
Frequently asked questions
What are eThekwini's electricity tariffs for 2026/27?
Most Durban households pay 357.47 c/kWh before VAT, or 411.09 c/kWh including VAT, on Scales 3, 4, 8, 9 and 13, with no fixed monthly charge. Indigent households on Scale 12 pay 267.13 c/kWh including VAT for units up to 150 kWh a month and receive 65 kWh free.
What are Durban's prepaid electricity rates?
Prepaid Scales 8 (60 A), 9 (40 A) and 13 (three-phase) all cost 411.09 c/kWh including VAT for 2026/27, the same as credit-meter Scales 3 and 4. There are no blocks, so the price per unit does not rise as you buy more.
How much did Durban electricity go up in July 2026?
The residential energy charge rose 9.00%, from 327.95 c/kWh to 357.47 c/kWh before VAT, effective 1 July 2026. eThekwini describes this as an average increase of 9%, following NERSA's 9.01% increase in Eskom's bulk price to municipalities.
Does eThekwini pay for solar power fed into the grid?
Registered customers on the Residential Net Billing Tariff are credited 160.52 c/kWh before VAT for exported energy. Credits reduce your electricity account but are not paid out in cash, and a monthly Network Access Charge based on your inverter's kVA rating applies.
Do I need to register a solar system in Durban if I don't export?
Yes. eThekwini requires every system that can run in parallel with its grid to be registered, including systems that block reverse power flow, and all SSEG customers need a bi-directional meter. Unregistered systems can be fined and disconnected.
Sources and review note
Checked on 21 October 2026. Tariff rates and the 2025/26 comparison come from eThekwini's Final Tariff Tables 2026/2027, Electricity section, printed pages 224 and 226. Scale descriptions, the 9% increase, increase history, Free Basic Electricity rules, the net billing explanation and the brochure's Network Access Charge figure come from the Electricity and Energy Directorate's Tariffs and Charges 2026/27 brochure. Registration, inverter, metering and off-grid rules come from eThekwini Electricity's embedded generation pages and its conditions and application process for SSEG. The 9.01% bulk increase is from NERSA's media statement of 12 March 2026. Worked examples are SolarGuide calculations from these published rates and are not quotes. Tariffs change each July, so check your scale and rates on your own account or with eThekwini before relying on these figures.