How to Set Up Prepaid Electricity as a New Homeowner in South Africa

How to register your meter, buy your first electricity token and track and manage everything from one place - this is how new homeowners can set up a prepaid electricity meter in SA.

Need to load electricity in your new home for the first time?

Whether you’ve just received your keys or are prepping for your move-in day, one of the first things you’ll need to sort out is electricity - and fast. If you’ve never used a prepaid meter before, it can feel a bit confusing at first.

But don’t worry: this guide breaks down how to set up prepaid electricity as a new homeowner in South Africa, complete with step-by-step instructions to help you skip all the queues and confusion.

First: What Is Prepaid Electricity and How Does It Work?

If it’s your first time using a prepaid meter, note: Prepaid electricity works a lot like prepaid airtime or data - you pay upfront to top up your electricity and your actual consumption then deducts from the balance on your meter.

Instead of receiving a monthly bill, you load units onto your meter using a 20-digit token that you enter into your meter’s keypad. You can buy these tokens in many shops or online via Prepaid24 - you can now even buy yours via WhatsApp.

Common Frustrations Faced by New Homeowners

Many homeowners feel caught off guard when trying to get electricity up and running. Maybe your estate agent didn’t explain the meter. Maybe the municipality has sent you running in circles. Maybe you’ve heard stories of:

Long municipal queues just to register your meter
Portals that don’t work or give you weird errors
Running out of power in the middle of dinner
Struggling to budget without proper usage records
Forgetting to top up - until it's too late

You're not alone. The good news? There’s a better way - and it takes just 2 minutes.

Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Prepaid Electricity in Your New Home

Setting up prepaid electricity through Prepaid24 is fast, easy and works across 95% of South African municipalities, including all major metros and Eskom.

1. Register Your Meter (Takes 2 Minutes)

You don’t need to link your meter to your name or stand in any municipal line - it should already be linked to your address. All you need is:

Your name, cell number, and email address
A password for your profile
Your municipality and meter number (found on your meter screen or card)

You can do this on the Prepaid24 website or via our WhatsApp channel. It takes just 2 minutes to register - no calls, no queues.

2. Buy Your First Electricity Token

Once your meter is registered, buying electricity is just as easy. You can pay using:

Normal EFT Payment
Ozow - Pay by Bank
SmartFund (Prepaid24’s very own wallet, which can be topped up via EFT or credit card)
Credit Card (to top up your SmartFund)

After payment, you’ll receive your token via the “Prepaid24 - Tokens” WhatsApp channel, usually within 2 minutes. Enter the token on your meter’s keypad and your unit balance will go up!

3. Track and Manage Everything in One Place

With your Prepaid24 account, you get access to:

Monthly purchase reports (so you finally know where your electricity spend goes)
Reminders and auto top-ups (no more running out at the worst times!!)
24/7 purchase options, anytime, from any device
Expert electricity service, from a team who’s been servicing this industry for 15 years

If you ever get stuck, you’re backed by real humans, available 7 am to 11 pm, 365 days a year, (even on Sundays). Ask for help now.

Why More South Africans Are Choosing Prepaid24

Prepaid24 is trusted by thousands of South Africans and has been serving homeowners for over 16 years. Here’s what makes them a better choice than using the municipal route or common banking channels:

Works with over 95% of municipalities
No queueing or paperwork (just 2-minute online setup)
Exact same pricing as direct municipal purchases
Real-time support from people who actually help (and REALLY understand electricity)
Payment flexibility to suit your routine
Smart tools like monthly spend reports and reminders (because Prepaid24 focuses primarily on electricity)

As one homeowner recently shared:

“No more queuing for me - Prepaid24 is my new home for electricity purchases. I had trouble loading a new meter, but with the friendly help of Prepaid24’s support team, I got it sorted almost instantly. On a Sunday afternoon, nogal!”

How to Know if Prepaid24 Works in Your Area

Check whether your municipality is supported by searching for it here (if you find it, you can start your first purchase right there). Prepaid24 covers nearly all metros, towns and rural municipalities, and even offers prepaid water top-ups in places like Bloemfontein.

Move-In Ready, the Easy Way

Whether it’s your first home or your fifth, how to set up prepaid electricity shouldn’t be something you stress about. Skip the queues, get set up in minutes and manage everything from your phone - with an expert team that’s always ready to help.

Or chat to us on WhatsApp - we’ll help you get started right away.

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