Buy Prepaid Electricity USSD Code

Last checked: 26 June 2026

Quick Code/Menu Answer

The quickest buy prepaid electricity USSD code is usually your bank’s cellphone banking code, not your mobile network’s airtime or data menu. Dial your bank’s USSD code, sign in with your banking PIN, choose Prepaid, Buy, or Electricity, enter the meter number, check the amount, then confirm.

There is no single electricity token USSD code that works for every South African bank, meter, municipality, and mobile network. Use the code for the bank account you want to pay from.

Before you buy, make sure the meter number is correct. A prepaid electricity token is linked to the meter number used for the purchase. If you buy for the wrong meter, the token may not work on your meter and the transaction may be difficult to fix.

Provider-by-Provider Options

FNB prepaid electricity USSD

FNB customers can use Cellphone Banking on *120*321#. FNB lists buy prepaid electricity as one of the things users can do on Cellphone Banking, and its prepaid electricity page says the service is available through FNB’s digital banking channels if you meet the qualifying criteria. (FNB)

Use this route when your money is in an FNB account and your cellphone number is registered for FNB Cellphone Banking.

Typical route:

1. Dial *120*321#.
2. Enter your Cellphone Banking PIN.
3. Choose Prepaid.
4. Choose Electricity.
5. Enter or select the meter number.
6. Enter the amount.
7. Confirm only after checking the meter and amount.

Absa prepaid electricity USSD

Absa gives one of the clearest verified menu paths. Dial *120*2272#, enter your 5-digit PIN, choose 2 for Prepaid, then 2 for Electricity. For a new beneficiary, Absa says you enter the meter number, recipient name and amount, choose the account to debit, continue, accept the transaction, and choose where the prepaid token should be sent. (Absa)

Absa also provides a resend-token route: *120*2272# > Prepaid > Electricity > Resend token. (Absa)

Use this route if you bank with Absa and need to buy for a new meter or resend a prepaid electricity token.

Standard Bank prepaid electricity USSD

Standard Bank customers can dial *120*2345# or *130*2345#, sign in, then choose Electricity. Standard Bank’s Cellphone Banking FAQ says the service does not need internet, but users need airtime for normal Cellphone Banking, and normal mobile network charges apply. It also says *130*2345# can be used to recharge if you have run out of airtime. (Standard Bank)

Use this route if you bank with Standard Bank and want to buy electricity without opening the banking app.

Nedbank prepaid electricity USSD

Nedbank customers can dial *120*001# and choose Quick Buy, then Electricity. Nedbank also gives a logged-in route: dial *120*001#, log in to Cellphone Banking, choose Buy from the main menu, then choose Electricity. (Nedbank)

Use this route if your prepaid electricity purchase must come from a Nedbank account.

Capitec prepaid electricity USSD

Capitec customers can dial *120*3279# to buy prepaid electricity and water. The verified Capitec route is: choose Buy, choose Electricity, choose the From account, enter or select the amount, enter the meter number, and enter your Mobile Banking PIN to confirm. (Capitec Bank)

Capitec says users can see electricity tokens previously bought through *120*3279#, but they cannot share the token history from that USSD menu. (Capitec Bank)

Use this route if you bank with Capitec and already have Mobile Banking active on your SIM.

GoTyme Bank prepaid electricity USSD

GoTyme Bank lists *120*543# as its USSD service. Its USSD page says customers can check balances, send money, buy airtime, data, SMS bundles and electricity. It also lists *130*543# for buying airtime when you do not have airtime. (GoTyme Bank)

Use this route if your GoTyme account is linked to the cellphone number you are using.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Requirements

Before using a bank prepaid electricity code, have these ready:

• Your bank’s correct USSD code.
• Your registered SIM card.
• Your cellphone banking PIN.
• The prepaid electricity meter number.
• Enough money in the account you want to debit.
• Enough signal to complete the USSD session.
• A pen, screenshot option, or SMS inbox access in case the token appears only once.

Do not continue if you are unsure about the meter number. Check it on the meter card, previous token slip, municipal account, landlord confirmation, or meter display.

Step-by-step process

1. Dial your bank’s USSD code.
2. Wait for the banking menu to load.
3. Enter your cellphone banking PIN.
4. Choose Buy, Prepaid, Quick Buy, or Electricity, depending on your bank.
5. Choose Electricity if the menu shows more than one prepaid product.
6. Select an existing meter beneficiary or enter a new meter number.
7. Enter the amount you want to buy.
8. Select the account to pay from.
9. Check the confirmation screen carefully.
10. Confirm only if the meter number, amount, account and any fee are correct.
11. Save the token shown on screen or sent by SMS.
12. Enter the token into your prepaid meter keypad or Customer Interface Unit.
13. Wait for the meter to accept the token and show the updated units or balance.

If the USSD session times out before you enter your PIN or final confirmation, restart the menu and check whether the transaction actually went through before buying again.

Fees or Limits

USSD electricity purchases may involve bank fees, mobile network charges, vendor limits, or product-specific limits. Do not assume the code is free unless your own bank says so.

Absa says users do not need airtime for Absa Cellphone Banking. (Absa) Standard Bank says normal mobile network provider charges apply and that Cellphone Banking needs airtime, not data. (Standard Bank) Capitec says service providers usually charge for Mobile Banking sessions, and its FAQ lists a prepaid electricity daily limit of up to R10,000 depending on the vendor. (Capitec Bank)

Always check the confirmation screen before accepting. If the total amount, service fee or meter details look wrong, cancel the transaction and restart.

Common Problems and Fixes

The buy prepaid electricity USSD code does not work

Check that you typed the code correctly, including the first star and final hash. Move to a place with better signal and try again. Make sure you are using your bank’s code, not a mobile network airtime code.

If your bank code still fails, check whether your cellphone number is registered for that bank’s cellphone banking service. Some banks require the SIM to be linked to your banking profile before financial transactions can be completed.

The menu does not show Electricity

Bank menus can change. Look for nearby options such as Buy, Prepaid, Quick Buy, Value-added services, Recharge, or Electricity.

Do not press random options if you are not sure. Exit the session and check your bank’s current help guide. If the bank no longer offers the purchase through USSD, use the bank app, online banking, ATM or a supported retailer instead.

The USSD session timed out

USSD sessions can time out if you take too long to respond. Capitec explains that if a transaction timed out after you confirmed with your Mobile Banking PIN, the transaction may still be processed, but if you had not confirmed yet, you may be able to resume the transaction by dialling the USSD code again within a short time. (Capitec Bank)

Before buying again, check whether money was deducted or whether a token SMS arrived.

The token did not arrive

First check your SMS inbox, banking notifications and purchase history. Some banks show previous electricity tokens inside their USSD or app history.

For Absa, use the resend-token route: *120*2272# > Prepaid > Electricity > Resend token. (Absa) For Capitec, you can view previously bought electricity tokens through *120*3279#, but you cannot share the history from that USSD menu. (Capitec Bank)

If money was deducted and no token is available, contact your bank with the transaction reference, meter number, amount and time of purchase.

The token is rejected by the meter

Enter the token slowly and check every digit. If the meter says USED, Eskom explains that the token has already been used and you should load a new token or purchase. If the keypad shows ConnEct, Eskom says the keypad is busy connecting to the meter and you may need to wait. (Eskom)

If the meter shows a different error, write down the exact message before contacting support. Do not keep buying more tokens until you understand whether the problem is the token, the meter, or the electricity supplier.

The meter number was wrong

If you notice the wrong meter number before confirmation, cancel the transaction immediately.

If you already confirmed the transaction, contact your bank first because the purchase was made through the bank channel. Keep the meter number used, amount, bank reference, date and time. Also contact the electricity supplier or municipality if the bank asks you to escalate the token issue.

Money was deducted but the meter still has no units

Buying electricity does not always mean the meter updates automatically. You normally still need to enter the token into the prepaid meter keypad or Customer Interface Unit.

If the token was entered and accepted but the units do not update, contact the electricity supplier. Eskom’s USSD self-service code is *120*37566#, and Eskom says that menu can be used to log faults, log token issues, check fault status, check account balances, submit meter readings and update account details. (Eskom)

Do not confuse Eskom’s support USSD with your bank’s purchase USSD. Use your bank to buy electricity. Use Eskom or your municipality to report supply, token or meter issues.

Safety Checks Before Confirming

Before pressing confirm, check:

• The meter number is correct.
• The purchase amount is correct.
• The correct bank account is selected.
• The name or label shown for the meter makes sense.
• Any service fee or network charge is acceptable.
• You are not being rushed by someone else.
• You are using the official bank USSD code.
• Nobody can see your cellphone banking PIN.

Never share your banking PIN, OTP, card number or online banking password with anyone who claims they can help you buy electricity. A legitimate prepaid electricity purchase does not require you to send your banking PIN to another person.

Related Airtime and Data Guides

For the broader list of bank cellphone banking menus, use banking USSD codes South Africa.

If you meant airtime instead of electricity, use buy airtime with bank USSD.

For mobile recharges, balances, data and related top-up tasks, use airtime and data USSD codes South Africa.

FAQ

What is the safest way to use buy prepaid electricity USSD code?

The safest way is to use your own bank’s official USSD code, enter the meter number yourself, check the amount and meter details on the confirmation screen, and confirm only when everything is correct. Do not use a code sent by a stranger or social media post unless it matches your bank’s official help page.

Does buy prepaid electricity USSD code require airtime or mobile data?

USSD does not require mobile data, but airtime requirements depend on the bank and route. Absa says its Cellphone Banking does not need airtime, while Standard Bank says its Cellphone Banking needs airtime and normal mobile network charges apply. (Absa)

Why might buy prepaid electricity USSD code fail?

It may fail because the USSD code is typed incorrectly, the menu has changed, the SIM is not registered for cellphone banking, there is poor signal, the bank service is temporarily unavailable, the account has insufficient funds, or the meter/vendor system is not responding.

What should I do before confirming a purchase?

Check the meter number, amount, debit account, recipient or meter label, and any fee shown on the screen. If you are buying for someone else, ask them to confirm the meter number before you press confirm.

What should I do if the token does not work?

Check the digits and enter the token again slowly. If the meter shows an error such as USED, ConnEct, OUEr_Por or another message, write down the exact error and follow the supplier’s troubleshooting route. Eskom lists common prepaid meter errors and also provides *120*37566# for self-service token issues and faults. (Eskom)

Where can users find related USSD codes?

Use banking USSD codes South Africa for bank menus, buy airtime with bank USSD for airtime purchases from a bank account, and airtime and data USSD codes South Africa for related airtime, data and recharge guides.