ZETDC tariffs effective 2026-09-21
How much is 400 units of ZESA
400 units (kWh) of prepaid electricity costs ZWG 2,046.74 — about US$72.58 — as your first purchase this month, including the 6% REA levy.
Four hundred units is the entire discounted monthly quota, and the largest purchase that still enjoys stepped pricing. Every unit bought above this in the same calendar month is charged at the top band rate, so this is the natural ceiling for one month's buying.
Band-by-band breakdown
ZESA charges in six steps each month. Here is exactly what 400 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 | 100.0 | 6.4931 | ZWG 649.31 |
| 301 – 400 units | 100.0 | 7.0577 | ZWG 705.77 |
| Total | 400.0 | — | ZWG 2,046.74 (≈ US$72.58) |
That is 100% of your 400 kWh discounted monthly quota. Anything above the quota in the same month is charged at the top band rate.
What 400 units actually runs
400.0 kWh is about 30 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 | 5.6 days |
| Stove plate | 2,000 W | 8.3 days |
| Kettle (2 L) | 2,000 W | 8.3 days |
| Iron | 1,200 W | 14 days |
| Microwave | 1,000 W | 17 days |
| Borehole pump (1 hp) | 750 W | 22 days |
| TV + decoder | 120 W | 139 days |
| Five LED bulbs | 50 W | 333 days |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 W | 1,667 days |
| Fridge / freezer | 1.2 kWh/day | 333 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 2,046.74 for 400 units works out at ZWG 5.1168 per kWh across the bands you touch — your last unit is charged in the “301 – 400 units” band at ZWG 7.0577.
Versus the last schedule
The same 400 units cost ZWG 2,047.88 under the schedule effective 2026-09-18 (September 2026) — a change of -0.1%. See every schedule.
Starting from money instead?
ZiG 2,000 is the closest common purchase — it buys about 393.4 kWh.
Already bought units this month?
Then 400 units costs more than ZWG 2,046.74, 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
- 250 units = ZWG 1,016.31
- 300 units = ZWG 1,340.97
See every amount · Current tariff table · How rates have moved
Questions
- Is 400 units of ZESA always ZWG 2,046.74?
- No. ZESA uses a stepped tariff, so the price depends on how much you have already bought this calendar month. ZWG 2,046.74 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$72.58 figure uses the published reference rate of about 28.2 ZWG per US$; USD payment channels convert at the rate they offer on the day.
- How long does 400 units of ZESA last?
- About 30 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: 400 units is 5.6 days of a 3 kW geyser, or 333 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.