Prepaid Electricity: How It Works in South Africa
Prepaid electricity meters, also called token meters or keypad meters, are the most common type of residential electricity meter in South Africa. Instead of receiving a monthly bill, you buy electricity in advance and load a token code into your meter. This guide explains the full process.
What Is a Prepaid Electricity Meter?
A prepaid electricity meter uses a Standard Transfer Specification (STS) system. When you buy electricity, you receive a unique 20-digit token number. You type this number into the keypad on your meter, and the purchased units are added to your balance.
The meter counts down your units as you use electricity. When the balance runs low, the meter will typically beep or flash a warning light. When it reaches zero, your power is cut until you purchase and load more units.
Where to Buy Prepaid Electricity Tokens
You can purchase prepaid electricity tokens at a wide range of locations across South Africa. You will always need your 20-digit meter number (printed on the front of your meter) when buying.
- Checkers, Shoprite, and Pick n Pay stores nationwide
- FNB, ABSA, Standard Bank, and Nedbank ATMs
- Online banking apps and USSD codes
- Eskom's online portal at www.eskom.co.za
- Municipalities' own customer service centres
- Spaza shops and licensed vendors in many townships
- The MyEskom Customer app on Android and iOS
Each token is unique to your specific meter number and cannot be used on a different meter. If you enter the wrong meter number when buying, contact the vendor immediately for a correction.
How to Load Your Token
- Locate the keypad on your prepaid meter (usually on the meter box itself or on an indoor display unit).
- Press the keypad button to wake the display.
- Enter your 20-digit token number carefully using the keypad.
- Press the enter or accept button (often marked with a hash or tick).
- The meter will display the number of units added and your new balance.
- Keep your token receipt as proof of purchase.
Understanding Your Unit Balance
Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), commonly called units. One unit equals one kilowatt of electricity used for one hour. A standard household geyser (3 kW) uses 3 units per hour.
Typical household consumption varies widely depending on the size of the home and appliances used. A small household may use 200-300 units per month, while a larger household with a geyser and multiple appliances may use 600 units or more.
| Appliance | Power (kW) | Units per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Electric geyser | 3.0 kW | 3 units |
| Electric stove plate (large) | 2.0 kW | 2 units |
| Washing machine | 0.5 kW | 0.5 units |
| LED light bulb | 0.01 kW | 0.01 units |
| Flat-screen TV (55 inch) | 0.15 kW | 0.15 units |
| Laptop | 0.05 kW | 0.05 units |
Emergency Credit and Free Basic Electricity
Some prepaid meters are configured by the municipality to offer a small emergency credit (sometimes called a lifeline credit) that activates when your balance reaches zero. This allows a small amount of electricity for emergency use, which is deducted from your next token purchase.
Qualifying indigent households receive 50 kWh of Free Basic Electricity (FBE) per month loaded automatically by the municipality. To access FBE you must be registered on the municipal indigent register.
Never attempt to bypass or tamper with your prepaid meter. This is a criminal offence and can cause fires, electrocution, and damage to appliances.
Common Prepaid Meter Problems
If your meter is not accepting a valid token, check that you have entered all 20 digits correctly. If the problem persists, contact your municipality or Eskom on 08600 37566.
If your meter shows an error code, do not attempt to open or tamper with the meter. Note the error code and contact the relevant utility provider. Meter tampering is a criminal offence under Section 22 of the Electricity Regulation Act.