Pre-paid electricity - Am I getting ripped off?

Napalm2880

Napalm2880

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Can anyone explain this to me?

I put in R300.00 worth of electricity this morning and to my horror, I only received 142.20 units. I know the tariffs have gone up, but seriously. WTF!:wtf:

I purchase via the FNB website and here's my history:

[table="width: 500"]
[tr]
[td]Date and Time[/td]
[td]Electricity Units[/td]
[td]Electricity Amount[/td]
[td]FBE Units[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Wed 24 Jul 2013[/td]
[td]142.20[/td]
[td]R 300.00[/td]
[td]n/a[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Mon 01 Jul 2013[/td]
[td]327.30[/td]
[td]R 300.00[/td]
[td]25.00[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Mon 27 May 2013[/td]
[td]222.80[/td]
[td]R 300.00[/td]
[td]n/a[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Tue 07 May 2013 [/td]
[td]315.60[/td]
[td]R 300.00[/td]
[td]50.00[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
 
Works on a sliding scale. For your first batch you probably paid around R0.90c per unit, where as on the second batch, you would have paid closer to R2.

Differs from area to area.
 
I believe it has to do with what time you buy elec.
Beginning of the month is cheaper than at the end of the month. I remember reading this somewhere.

I have noticed this on receipts that I have been keeping.
 
Napalm2880 said:
I put in R300.00 worth of electricity this morning and to my horror, I only received 142.20 units.
Click to expand...

There is your problem. Nearing the end of the month, you are in your highest usage bracket. Electericity is like water. The more you use the more you pay.
By buying large amounts of electricity at the end of the month you are buying in the highest bracket. If you buy on the first, you start again.

eg:
0-100kWh at R0.80 per kWh
101-250kWh at R1.00 per kWh
251-500kWh at R1.20 per kWh
501+kWh at R1.40 per kWh
 
I have heard rumours that you pay less if you buy smaller amounts at a time instead of buying a months worth at the beginning of the month. Is there any truth to this?
 
dade said:
I have heard rumours that you pay less if you buy smaller amounts at a time instead of buying a months worth at the beginning of the month. Is there any truth to this?
Click to expand...

If you don't use all that you bought within that month, then yes.
 
ColinR said:
There is your problem. Nearing the end of the month, you are in your highest usage bracket. Electericity is like water. The more you use the more you pay.
By buying large amounts of electricity at the end of the month you are buying in the highest bracket. If you buy on the first, you start again.

eg:
0-100kWh at R0.80 per kWh
101-250kWh at R1.00 per kWh
251-500kWh at R1.20 per kWh
501+kWh at R1.40 per kWh
Click to expand...

This ^.

ColinR knows what he's talking about. ;)

Thanks Colin.
 
Last edited:
doesn't anyone have the exact dates. I buy around the 20s and usually find it has reset to the low rates but I've been caught once or twice topping up in winter.
 
My guess is if you buy in less than 30 days you get less units, looking at that history.

Got less units when buying on 27 May after buying on 7 May. Got less units when buying on 24 July after buying on 1 July.

Maybe buying R400 a time will enable you to stretch it out further.
 
abzo said:
You seem to have a stereotypical view of taxi drivers.
Click to expand...
You do know that I've been in that trade as well, right?

No taxi driver I know knows about searching with the ":'" - hell almost all I knew and who drove for me never made it past standard 7.
 
YingYang said:
You do know that I've been in that trade as well, right?

No taxi driver I know knows about searching with the ":'" - hell almost all I knew and who drove for me never made it past standard 7.
Click to expand...

Cool E has been around myBB long enough to learn that, especially since it's always mentioned in threads.
 
supersunbird said:
My guess is if you buy in less than 30 days you get less units, looking at that history.

Got less units when buying on 27 May after buying on 7 May. Got less units when buying on 24 July after buying on 1 July.

Maybe buying R400 a time will enable you to stretch it out further.
Click to expand...


Was told the same thing, that you should purchased the required amount for the month, you buy more during the month, you get less.


Its weird almost, I used to purchase R1000 during summer, now im only spending R650 during winter.
 
what happens if you want to buy 6 month or a year in advance.
how would one get the best value if you buy R5,000 or R10,000 worth in one go ? or is this a very bad idea ?
 
scud said:
what happens if you want to buy 6 month or a year in advance.
how would one get the best value if you buy R5,000 or R10,000 worth in one go ? or is this a very bad idea ?
Click to expand...

The scale also looks at the amount you spend. So if you spend more you'll be whacked with a higher tariff
 
scud said:
what happens if you want to buy 6 month or a year in advance.
how would one get the best value if you buy R5,000 or R10,000 worth in one go ? or is this a very bad idea ?
Click to expand...

You're going to get maybe R400 dispersed among the various brackets - the remaining R4600 or R9600 is going to be purchased at the highest rate per kWh.
Simply madness to do it.
 
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