Free tools · From NERSA’s 2026/27 decision · KwaZulu-Natal
How many units for R100 in Pietermaritzburg (Msunduzi)?
R100 buys 38.4 kWh of prepaid electricity in Pietermaritzburg (Msunduzi) at the start of the month, VAT included, on Msunduzi’s prepaid tariff for homes, A.1: Domestic single phase (5 A to 80 A). It also has a fixed charge of R97.54 a month, which your purchases pay first. Every unit costs the same all month.
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- 38.4 kWhFor R100at the start of the month
- 191.9 kWhFor R500at the start of the month
- R2.61A unitthe same all month
- R97.54Fixed chargefor November, paid first
What R50 to R1,000 buys in Pietermaritzburg (Msunduzi)
Msunduzi has 4 prepaid tariffs for homes that, going by their names, any household can be on. The cheapest for a month of 500 kWh comes first:
A.1: Domestic single phase (5 A to 80 A)38.4 kWhfor R100 at the start of the month, plus a fixed R97.54 a month
Units (kWh) for each amount, VAT included. Start of month: your first units of the month, with the fixed charge paid. First buy: the month’s first purchase, if it pays the whole fixed charge before any units.
| You pay | Start of month | First buy |
|---|---|---|
| R50 | 19.2 | 0.0 |
| R100 | 38.4 | 0.9 |
| R200 | 76.7 | 39.3 |
| R300 | 115.1 | 77.7 |
| R500 | 191.9 | 154.4 |
| R1,000 | 383.7 | 346.3 |
Every unit costs R2.61 with VAT, all month. It has fixed charges (basic charge R61.90 a month, network access charge R22.92 a phase a month, before VAT) that come to R97.54 for November, with VAT. You pay it whatever you use, and your prepaid purchases pay it first. The decision doesn’t say whether its tariffs include VAT; 15% added, as municipal tariffs are usually quoted without it. Source: NERSA decision, page 26.
S.3.1: Domestic straight line, 60 A single phase24.1 kWhfor R100 at the start of the month
Units (kWh) for each amount, VAT included. Start of month: your first units of the month.
| You pay | Start of month |
|---|---|
| R50 | 12.0 |
| R100 | 24.1 |
| R200 | 48.1 |
| R300 | 72.2 |
| R500 | 120.4 |
| R1,000 | 240.7 |
Every unit costs R4.15 with VAT, all month. No fixed charge: all of your money buys units. The decision doesn’t say whether its tariffs include VAT; 15% added, as municipal tariffs are usually quoted without it. Source: NERSA decision, page 26.
A.2: Alternative tariff without access/availability charge, 50 A to 60 A single phase25.1 kWhfor R100 at the start of the month, plus a fixed R443.01 a month
Units (kWh) for each amount, VAT included. Start of month: your first units of the month, with the fixed charge paid. First buy: the month’s first purchase, if it pays the whole fixed charge before any units.
| You pay | Start of month | First buy |
|---|---|---|
| R50 | 12.6 | 0.0 |
| R100 | 25.1 | 0.0 |
| R200 | 50.2 | 0.0 |
| R300 | 75.3 | 0.0 |
| R500 | 125.5 | 14.3 |
| R1,000 | 251.0 | 139.8 |
Every unit costs R3.98 with VAT, all month. It has a fixed charge (basic charge R385.23 a month, before VAT) that comes to R443.01 for November, with VAT. You pay it whatever you use, and your prepaid purchases pay it first. The decision doesn’t say whether its tariffs include VAT; 15% added, as municipal tariffs are usually quoted without it. Source: NERSA decision, page 26.
S3.2, S3.3 and S5: Mid end straight line, 60 A21.1 kWhfor R100 at the start of the month, plus a fixed R369.71 a month
Units (kWh) for each amount, VAT included. Start of month: your first units of the month, with the fixed charge paid. First buy: the month’s first purchase, if it pays the whole fixed charge before any units.
| You pay | Start of month | First buy |
|---|---|---|
| R50 | 10.6 | 0.0 |
| R100 | 21.1 | 0.0 |
| R200 | 42.2 | 0.0 |
| R300 | 63.3 | 0.0 |
| R500 | 105.6 | 27.5 |
| R1,000 | 211.2 | 133.1 |
Every unit costs R4.74 with VAT, all month. It has a fixed charge (basic charge R321.49 a month, before VAT) that comes to R369.71 for November, with VAT. You pay it whatever you use, and your prepaid purchases pay it first. The decision doesn’t say whether its tariffs include VAT; 15% added, as municipal tariffs are usually quoted without it. Source: NERSA decision, page 27.
The fixed charge
Msunduzi charges R97.54 a month on this tariff, VAT included, whatever you use, and your prepaid purchases pay it first. If the whole month’s charge comes off your first purchase, your first R100 of the month buys 0.9 kWh. Municipalities collect it in different ways, some a little with every purchase. Your till slip shows what was taken.
Other household tariffs
| Tariff | R100 buys | Fixed a month |
|---|---|---|
| A.2: Alternative tariff without access/availability charge, 80 A to 100 A single phaseFor a 80 A single-phase supply | 23.2 kWh | R443.01 |
| S3.2, S3.3 and S5: High end straight line, 80 AFor a 80 A single-phase supply | 21.1 kWh | R462.12 |
| A.2: Alternative tariff without access/availability charge, 30 A to 40 A single phaseFor a 40 A single-phase supply | 27.3 kWh | R443.01 |
| A.2: Alternative tariff without access/availability charge, 20 A single phaseFor a 20 A single-phase supply | 28.9 kWh | R443.01 |
| S3.2, S3.3 and S5: Low end, 20 AFor a 20 A single-phase supply | 21.1 kWh | R295.76 |
| A.3: Domestic three phase (5 A to 100 A)For a 60 A three-phase supply | 38.4 kWh | R176.90 |
| S4: 100 A three phase (low, 20 A)For a 100 A three-phase supply | 21.1 kWh | R443.62 |
| S4: High end straight line, 100 A three phase (medium)For a 100 A three-phase supply | 21.6 kWh | R868.17 |
| S4: 100 A three phase (high)For a 100 A three-phase supply | 21.1 kWh | R1,386.35 |
| S1 and S2: Domestic lifeline, 20 A and 40 A single phaseFor households that qualify | 27.7 kWh | None |
| SO: Domestic indigent, 20 A (prepaid)For households that qualify | 32.0 kWh | None |
Units for R100 at the start of the month, VAT included, with the month’s fixed charge paid. The municipality decides who qualifies.
Not worked out from rand alone: TD.1: Domestic single phase, time of use (time of use: the price depends on the time of day); TD2: Domestic three phase, time of use (time of use: the price depends on the time of day).
Elsewhere in KwaZulu-Natal
- Abaqulusi32.7 kWh
- Ladysmith (Alfred Duma)39.1 kWh
- Richards Bay (uMhlathuze)64.9 kWh
- eDumbe38.9 kWh
- eMadlangeni40.2 kWh
- Endumeni40.1 kWh
- Durban (eThekwini)37.4 kWh
- Kokstad42.2 kWh
- Inkosi Langalibalele34.8 kWh
- KwaDukuza26.0 kWh
- Mandeni43.8 kWh
- Mpofana39.9 kWh
- Newcastle40.8 kWh
- Nkandla22.7 kWh
- Nquthu41.0 kWh
- Port Shepstone (Ray Nkonyeni)31.0 kWh
- Ulundi29.2 kWh
- uMlalazi40.5 kWh
- uMngeni40.5 kWh
- Umuziwabantu40.8 kWh
- Umvoti23.2 kWh
Units for R100 at the start of the month, VAT included.
- A month’s electricity bill in Pietermaritzburg (Msunduzi)Line by line
- Msunduzi: the municipalityWards, water
- Every municipalityUnits for R100
Source: NERSA decision, page 26, Msunduzi’s tariffs for 2026/27, from 1 July 2026. Worked out for November 2026. In parts of most municipalities, Eskom supplies homes directly.