ZETDC tariffs effective 2026-09-21
How much is 250 units of ZESA
250 units (kWh) of prepaid electricity costs ZWG 1,016.31 — about US$36.04 — as your first purchase this month, including the 6% REA levy.
Two hundred and fifty units pushes fifty units into the fourth band, so the average price per unit climbs even though the tariff itself has not changed. Splitting a purchase this size across a month boundary is where the stepped tariff can actually be beaten.
Band-by-band breakdown
ZESA charges in six steps each month. Here is exactly what 250 units costs.
| Band | Units | ZWG/unit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 50 units | 50.0 | 2.2585 | ZWG 112.93 |
| 51 – 100 units | 50.0 | 2.5408 | ZWG 127.04 |
| 101 – 200 units | 100.0 | 4.5169 | ZWG 451.69 |
| 201 – 300 units | 50.0 | 6.4931 | ZWG 324.66 |
| Total | 250.0 | — | ZWG 1,016.31 (≈ US$36.04) |
That is 63% of your 400 kWh discounted monthly quota. Anything above the quota in the same month is charged at the top band rate.
What 250 units actually runs
250.0 kWh is about 19 days for a household that would otherwise burn through the whole 400 kWh quota in a month. Spent on one appliance at a time, it goes this far:
| Appliance | Typical draw | Runs for |
|---|---|---|
| Electric geyser (150 L) | 3,000 W | 3.5 days |
| Stove plate | 2,000 W | 5.2 days |
| Kettle (2 L) | 2,000 W | 5.2 days |
| Iron | 1,200 W | 8.7 days |
| Microwave | 1,000 W | 10 days |
| Borehole pump (1 hp) | 750 W | 14 days |
| TV + decoder | 120 W | 87 days |
| Five LED bulbs | 50 W | 208 days |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 W | 1,042 days |
| Fridge / freezer | 1.2 kWh/day | 208 days |
Wattages are typical nameplate figures for appliances sold in Zimbabwe, not metered readings — treat them as a guide to where your units go.
Average price you pay
ZWG 1,016.31 for 250 units works out at ZWG 4.0652 per kWh across the bands you touch — your last unit is charged in the “201 – 300 units” band at ZWG 6.4931.
Versus the last schedule
The same 250 units cost ZWG 1,016.88 under the schedule effective 2026-09-18 (September 2026) — a change of -0.1%. See every schedule.
Starting from money instead?
ZiG 1,000 is the closest common purchase — it buys about 247.5 kWh.
Already bought units this month?
Then 250 units costs more than ZWG 1,016.31, because your cheap bands are already used. The calculator takes that into account — enter what you have bought so far.
Open the ZESA calculator →Other unit amounts
- 50 units = ZWG 112.93
- 100 units = ZWG 239.97
- 150 units = ZWG 465.81
- 200 units = ZWG 691.66
- 300 units = ZWG 1,340.97
- 400 units = ZWG 2,046.74
See every amount · Current tariff table · How rates have moved
Questions
- Is 250 units of ZESA always ZWG 1,016.31?
- No. ZESA uses a stepped tariff, so the price depends on how much you have already bought this calendar month. ZWG 1,016.31 assumes this is your first purchase of the month, starting from the cheapest band. Later purchases in the same month cost more per unit.
- Can I pay for ZESA in US dollars?
- ZETDC bills in ZWG. The ≈ US$36.04 figure uses the published reference rate of about 28.2 ZWG per US$; USD payment channels convert at the rate they offer on the day.
- How long does 250 units of ZESA last?
- About 19 days for a household that would otherwise use its full 400 kWh quota in a month (≈ 13.3 kWh a day). Run less than that and it stretches further: 250 units is 3.5 days of a 3 kW geyser, or 208 days of a fridge on its own.
- Do these prices include the REA levy?
- Yes. Every figure on this page includes the 6% Rural Electrification levy, exactly as ZETDC charges it. Rates are the ZERA-approved schedule effective 2026-09-21.