Prepaid electricity rates by city
Compare the prepaid plans included in this guide, then choose your actual tariff to estimate your own costs. One unit is one kWh; supplier fees and earlier purchases can affect a top-up.
Prepaid cost by monthly usage
Calculate your monthly costs or a prepaid purchase →Estimated monthly cost and average price per unit for the prepaid plans we can model. Includes VAT and listed charges; uses a 30.4-day average month, single-phase fees and no optional AMI fees. Qualifying rules and any stated block assumptions still apply. A monthly example is not an exact prepaid top-up.
| Utility | Tariff | 300 kWh/month | 600 kWh/month | 1000 kWh/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eskom direct | Homepower 1 | R1 767 R5,89/kWh | R2 833 R4,72/kWh | R4 255 R4,26/kWh |
| Eskom direct | Homepower 2 | R2 364 R7,88/kWh | R3 431 R5,72/kWh | R4 853 R4,85/kWh |
| Eskom direct | Homepower 3 | R3 630 R12,10/kWh | R4 697 R7,83/kWh | R6 119 R6,12/kWh |
| Eskom direct | Homepower 4 | R1 610 R5,37/kWh | R2 676 R4,46/kWh | R4 098 R4,10/kWh |
| Eskom direct | Homelight 20A | R811 R2,70/kWh | R1 622 R2,70/kWh | R2 703 R2,70/kWh |
| Eskom direct | Homelight 60A | R1 031 R3,44/kWh | R2 062 R3,44/kWh | R3 436 R3,44/kWh |
| City Power · Johannesburg | Residential Prepaid High Uses City Power’s published price blocks and includes the surcharge above 500 units. A conflicting block rule appears in the same document; confirm with City Power if your purchases differ. | R1 244 R4,15/kWh | R2 429 R4,05/kWh | R4 203 R4,20/kWh |
| City Power · Johannesburg | Residential Prepaid Low Uses City Power’s published price blocks and includes the surcharge above 500 units. A conflicting block rule appears in the same document; confirm with City Power if your purchases differ. | R940 R3,13/kWh | R2 153 R3,59/kWh | R4 081 R4,08/kWh |
| City of Cape Town | Lifeline | R849 R2,83/kWh | R1 698 R2,83/kWh | R2 830 R2,83/kWh |
| City of Cape Town | Domestic | R1 316 R4,39/kWh | R2 558 R4,26/kWh | R4 533 R4,53/kWh |
| City of Cape Town | Home User | R1 492 R4,97/kWh | R2 560 R4,27/kWh | R4 436 R4,44/kWh |
| eThekwini · Durban | Residential Scale 8 & 9 | R1 233 R4,11/kWh | R2 467 R4,11/kWh | R4 111 R4,11/kWh |
| eThekwini · Durban | Residential Scale 13 | R1 233 R4,11/kWh | R2 467 R4,11/kWh | R4 111 R4,11/kWh |
| eThekwini · Durban | Residential Scale 12 | R1 017 R3,39/kWh | R2 251 R3,75/kWh | R3 895 R3,89/kWh |
| Ekurhuleni · East Rand | Tariff A.2 Residential (non-indigent) Low income | R1 057 R3,52/kWh | R2 114 R3,52/kWh | R3 523 R3,52/kWh |
| Ekurhuleni · East Rand | Tariff A.1 Residential | R859 R2,86/kWh | R1 890 R3,15/kWh | R3 264 R3,26/kWh |
| Ekurhuleni · East Rand | Tariff B Residential | R1 289 R4,30/kWh | R2 452 R4,09/kWh | R4 002 R4,00/kWh |
| Buffalo City · East London | Scale 1B Non-Indigent Domestic Prepayment Estimate assumes the published usage blocks reset monthly; this tariff entry does not explicitly state the reset period. Confirm it with Buffalo City. | R1 691 R5,64/kWh | R2 852 R4,75/kWh | R4 400 R4,40/kWh |
| Buffalo City · East London | Scale 1C Indigent & Pensioners Domestic Prepayment Three Part Block Tariff Estimate assumes the published usage blocks reset monthly; this tariff entry does not explicitly state the reset period. Confirm it with Buffalo City. | R823 R2,74/kWh | R1 987 R3,31/kWh | R3 539 R3,54/kWh |
| Buffalo City · East London | Scale 1C-3 Pensioners Domestic three part tariff | R1 077 R3,59/kWh | R2 241 R3,73/kWh | R3 793 R3,79/kWh |
| Buffalo City · East London | Scale 1C-4 Social housing development projects | R1 106 R3,69/kWh | R2 270 R3,78/kWh | R3 822 R3,82/kWh |
| Buffalo City · East London | Scale 2B Small Power Users Domestic and Commercial prepayment | R2 562 R8,54/kWh | R3 864 R6,44/kWh | R5 600 R5,60/kWh |
Not priced: Tshwane · Pretoria, Nelson Mandela Bay · Gqeberha, Centlec · Mangaung / Bloemfontein. A VAT-inclusive household total is not confirmed from the approved sources in this guide. Check the VAT line and tariff on your account or ask Tshwane before using the published rates to budget. The sources in this guide contain disputed and proposed domestic rates following the August 2026 court order. These are kept as reference only, not treated as confirmed current prices. Check your account and the municipality’s latest notice. The approved schedule does not confirm the VAT basis or which months use summer and winter rates. Ask Centlec to confirm both; this guide does not calculate an assumed household total.
Prepaid questions
How much is prepaid electricity per kWh in 2026?
For the selected prepaid residential tariffs SolarGuide can model, the estimated cost at 600 kWh a month, including VAT and any fixed charges, ranges from R2,70 to R7,83 per kWh. Tariffs were checked on 26 September 2026 against each utility's official 2026/27 documents.
Why do I get fewer units for the same rand later in the month?
Many municipal prepaid tariffs are stepped: the first block of units each month is cheaper, and units cost more once you pass it. Some utilities also deduct fixed charges from purchases. Buying at different times does not change the tariff, but crossing a block does.
Is prepaid cheaper than a credit meter?
Not automatically. Some cities charge prepaid customers no fixed fee but higher or stepped unit rates, while credit-meter tariffs add fixed service or network charges. Match your actual plan and billing details in the national tariff calculator.