Electricity USSD Codes

In South Africa you usually buy prepaid electricity through your bank’s USSD menu, not through a dedicated electricity code. You choose the prepaid electricity option, enter your meter number and amount, and receive the token by SMS. This page shows the route for each bank and links to guides for electricity advance and free basic electricity.

Directory updated: 13 September 2026. Each code below shows the date it was last verified on its own guide. USSDCode.co.za is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any bank, network, retailer, lender or government department listed here.

Quick Answer and Most-Used Codes

To buy prepaid electricity by USSD, dial your bank’s cellphone banking code, choose the prepaid or buy option, then select electricity and enter your meter number (usually 11 or 13 digits). The bank codes are Capitec *120*3279#, FNB *120*321#, Absa *120*2272#, Standard Bank *120*2345#, Nedbank *120*001# and TymeBank *120*543# (all last verified July 2026 as each bank’s main code). Menu wording differs by bank, so follow your own screen.

A bank’s main USSD code is verified; the exact position of the electricity option inside each bank’s menu is not, because banks reorder menus without notice.

Browse by Provider or Service

Buy through your bank

Every major bank sells prepaid electricity for Eskom and most municipal meters. Pick your bank to see its code, registration steps and fees:

• Capitec
• FNB
• Absa
• Standard Bank
• Nedbank
• TymeBank

Advances and subsidies

• Electricity advance: how emergency electricity credit works and who offers it.
• Vodacom electricity advance and Cell C electricity advance.
• Free Basic Electricity (FBE): the monthly subsidy for registered indigent households.
• Eskom electricity advance: who actually offers electricity advances.
• Eskom USSD code: report faults and submit meter readings.

Browse by Task

• Buy prepaid electricity using USSD: the step-by-step walkthrough across banks.
• Get an emergency electricity token: electricity advance
• Claim free basic electricity: FBE
• Pay with airtime instead of a bank account: see your network’s guide for whether electricity is offered.

How to Use These USSD Codes

1. Find your meter number. It is printed on the meter itself and on any previous token slip, and is usually 11 or 13 digits.
2. Dial your bank’s USSD code from the cellphone number registered with the bank, and sign in with your remote PIN.
3. Choose the prepaid, buy or electricity option from the menu on your screen.
4. Enter the meter number and the rand amount. Check the name or address the bank shows for the meter before confirming.
5. Approve the purchase. The token arrives by SMS; type the full 20-digit token into your meter keypad.

If the meter shows “reject” or the token does not load, re-enter it slowly. A first purchase on a new meter, or after a municipal tariff change, may deliver two extra key-change tokens that must be entered before the credit token.

Codes to Verify Before Dialling

• Only buy tokens through your bank, a known retailer or an official vendor. Tokens bought from informal sellers may be illegal and can lead to your meter being blocked.
• Check the meter number twice. A token bought for the wrong meter usually cannot be refunded from the menu.
• No legitimate bank, network or government service will ask you to read out your PIN, OTP or password to another person.

Related USSD Guides

• Banking USSD codes
• Mobile network USSD codes
• Bank transaction failed on USSD
• All USSD codes in South Africa