ZETDC tariffs effective 2026-09-21
How many ZESA units is US$1
US$1 buys 12.5 kWh of prepaid electricity in Zimbabwe — as your first purchase this month, including the 6% REA levy.
Converted at the published reference rate of ≈ 28.2 ZWG per US$, i.e. about ZWG 28.20. You pay ZETDC in ZWG unless you use a USD channel.
One US dollar is the smallest amount worth asking about, and the honest answer is: not much, but it is priced at the cheapest band, so it goes further per dollar than any larger purchase. ZETDC bills in ZWG, so the figure below uses the reference rate published with the tariffs.
Band-by-band breakdown
ZESA charges in six steps each month. Here is exactly where US$1 lands.
| Band | Units | ZWG/unit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 50 units | 12.5 | 2.2585 | ZWG 28.20 |
| Total | 12.5 | — | ZWG 28.20 (≈ US$1.00) |
That is 3% of your 400 kWh discounted monthly quota. Anything above the quota in the same month is charged at the top band rate.
What US$1 actually runs
12.5 kWh is about 22 h 29 min 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 | 4 h 10 min |
| Stove plate | 2,000 W | 6 h 15 min |
| Kettle (2 L) | 2,000 W | 6 h 15 min |
| Iron | 1,200 W | 10 h 24 min |
| Microwave | 1,000 W | 12 h 29 min |
| Borehole pump (1 hp) | 750 W | 16 h 39 min |
| TV + decoder | 120 W | 4.3 days |
| Five LED bulbs | 50 W | 10 days |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 W | 52 days |
| Fridge / freezer | 1.2 kWh/day | 10 days |
Wattages are typical nameplate figures for appliances sold in Zimbabwe, not metered readings — treat them as a guide to where your units go.
Versus the last schedule
The same 12.5 kWh cost ZWG 28.21 under the schedule effective 2026-09-18 (September 2026) — a change of -0.1%, which is why the same note buys a different number of units month to month. See every schedule.
Or start from the units
Working the other way round — what a fixed number of units costs as a first purchase this month. US$1 lands nearest to 50 units.
Already bought units this month?
Then US$1 buys less than 12.5 kWh, 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 amounts
See every amount · Current tariff table · How rates have moved
Questions
- Is US$1 of ZESA always 12.5 units?
- No. ZESA uses a stepped tariff, so the answer depends on how much you have already bought this calendar month. 12.5 kWh assumes this is your first purchase of the month, starting from the cheapest band. Later purchases in the same month buy fewer units for the same money.
- How long does US$1 of ZESA last?
- US$1 buys 12.5 kWh, which is about 22 h 29 min for a household that would otherwise use its full 400 kWh monthly quota (≈ 13.3 kWh a day). Use less than that and it lasts proportionally longer.
- 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.