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ZETDC tariffs effective 2026-09-21 · verified 2026-09-21

What your money buys

Every common ZESA purchase worked out both ways — money to units and units to money — with the effective price per kWh, because band-stepping means no two purchases cost the same per unit. First purchase of the month, 6% REA levy included, regenerated whenever ZERA changes the rates. USD amounts use the published reference rate of ≈ 28.2 ZWG per US$.

The six bands these figures come from →

In ZWG

The notes people actually buy. “Lasts” assumes a household that would otherwise use its full 400 kWh quota in a month.

You payYou getLasts
ZiG 5022.1 kWh39 h 51 min
ZiG 10044.3 kWh3.3 days
ZiG 20084.3 kWh6.3 days
ZiG 500157.6 kWh12 days
ZiG 1,000247.5 kWh19 days
ZiG 2,000393.4 kWh30 days
ZiG 5,000802.4 kWh60 days

In US dollars

Converted at ≈ 28.2 ZWG per US$ — the reference rate published with the tariff schedule.

You payYou getLasts
US$112.5 kWh22 h 29 min
US$225.0 kWh44 h 57 min
US$561.0 kWh4.6 days
US$10109.3 kWh8.2 days
US$20171.7 kWh13 days
US$50309.8 kWh23 days
US$100505.3 kWh38 days

Cost of a given number of units

Working the other way — what a fixed number of units costs as a first purchase of the month, and what that many units runs in the house.

UnitsCost (ZWG)≈ USD% of quota
50 units112.93$4.0013%
100 units239.97$8.5125%
150 units465.81$16.5238%
200 units691.66$24.5350%
250 units1,016.31$36.0463%
300 units1,340.97$47.5575%
400 units2,046.74$72.58100%

Questions people ask about ZESA units

Why does the same amount buy fewer units later in the month?
ZESA's tariff is stepped: the first 50 units of each calendar month are the cheapest and every band above that costs more. The figures on this page are all first purchases of the month, starting from the cheapest band. Once you have used your cheap bands, the same money lands in higher bands and buys fewer units — the calculator on the home page takes "units already bought" into account.
What is the cheapest way to buy ZESA units?
Buy inside your 400 kWh monthly quota. Every unit above the quota in the same calendar month is charged at the top band rate, so a household that needs more than 400 kWh pays noticeably less by topping up before the month ends and buying the rest after the 1st, when the quota resets.
Are USD figures the price ZETDC charges?
No. ZETDC bills in ZWG. USD amounts on this site are converted at the reference rate published with the tariff schedule — currently about 28.2 ZWG per US$ — so a USD payment channel may convert at a slightly different rate on the day.

Need a different number, or already bought units this month? Use the calculator. Ready to top up? Buy a token. Curious how the rates got here? Tariff history.