Costs & savings

How should prepaid token costs compare to solar self-use in South Africa?

Convert your prepaid token R/kWh (including any service charges baked into tokens) and compare to the import rate you avoid with self-use — solar does not remove every fixed or capacity charge, so model both.

Updated 27 October 2026 · Illustrative ranges — not a formal quote, credit decision or legal advice.

Answer first: Average the last three months of token spend ÷ kWh, then compare to modelled self-use savings from a quote — prepaid STS / tokens · prepaid meter · prepaid to conventional · monthly savings · costs & savings.

Modelling tips

Separate pure energy R/kWh from standing charges where the metro publishes both.
Do not assume export credits on prepaid without the metro PDF.
Keep token SMS/receipts for a before/after file.

bi-di meter · fixed charges · SSEG.

Desk close

Keep metro and OEM PDFs beside this page. When rand bands disagree with a live primary, the primary wins — metro tariffs · tariffs 2026 · choose installer · get quotes · check a quote.

Sources homeowners can open

Your metro SSEG / tariff PDF (live municipal site).
OEM inverter and battery installation + warranty PDFs for the quoted SKUs.
NERSA and municipal tariff schedules for the current year.
Published network price posts (e.g. DriveElectric) when comparing public DC vs home AC.

Commissioning evidence pack

Serial photos, firmware version, export-limit screenshot, CT polarity photo, dual-supply labels, CoC number, guest monitoring login — with the invoice PDF — CoC · export limit · CT clamps · labels · firmware · warranty claims.

Tariff and fixed-charge reminder

Fixed charges remain after panels go up. Model self-use against your metro’s published rates before celebrating a payback slide — fixed charges · monthly savings · export vs self-use · tariffs 2026 · bill still high · metro tariffs · costs & savings.

Safety do-not list

Do not DIY dual-supply boards, earthing, or MC4 strings.
Do not bridge RCDs or defeat BMS protections.
Do not ignore isolation or earth-fault alarms.
Do not disable export limits or grid-interface settings.

DIY risks · earth leakage · MC4 · DC isolation · red flags · N-E island.

Stage-weekend reality check

Essentials first through your worst Stage window — essentials · Stage strategy · Stage 4 · SoC · Stage table · load shedding hub.

Extra SA context

Keep metro and OEM PDFs beside this page. When rand bands disagree with a live primary, the primary wins — choose installer · get quotes · check a quote · FAQ · about · batteries.

Handover note 1

Photograph serials, labels and the essential board before the cover closes. Keep guest monitoring access with the invoice. Revisit SoC floors when Stage calendars change — SoC · Stage strategy · Stage 4 · essentials · monitoring · choose installer · get quotes · check a quote · FAQ · about · costs & savings · batteries.

Handover note 2

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Extra SA context note 2

Keep metro and OEM PDFs beside this page. When rand bands disagree with a live primary, the primary wins — SoC · monthly savings · fixed charges · export vs self-use · choose installer · get quotes · check a quote · FAQ · about · costs & savings · metro tariffs.

Extra SA context note 2

Prepaid token maths that quotes often skip

Prepaid households do not get a neat credit-on-statement story. Tokens are bought in rands; solar lowers how often you top up by cutting grid kWh. Model monthly token spend before solar minus expected remaining spend after self-use, then subtract any prepaid-to-conventional conversion cost if the metro forces a meter change for SSEG. Inclining prepaid blocks still punish high evening use — shift geyser and laundry into PV hours before you chase export promises that prepaid meters may not support.

Photograph the meter type and tariff code before the survey.
Ask whether SSEG requires a conventional / AMI swap and who pays.
Keep a two-week token buffer during commissioning — token tips · prepaid→conventional · prepaid + solar.

When solar still wins on prepaid

If your last six months average R2 500–R4 000 in tokens and daytime loads can soak PV, self-use usually beats waiting for export. Fixed / capacity charges on some prepaid products still apply — paste them into the spreadsheet. Related: monthly savings · fixed charges · metro tariffs.

Desk close on prepaid solar maths

Track three months of token rands after commissioning before you judge the installer. If top-ups barely moved, check CT polarity, geyser timing and whether the metro forced a tariff you did not model — token tips · check a quote.

Write the decision rule for this topic into the handover pack in one sentence the next owner can follow without calling you. Clear operating rules beat tribal knowledge when the first Stage 4 night arrives.

Quick questions

Do tokens include fixed charges?

Often blended — read the metro prepaid leaflet.

Can I export on prepaid?

Many metros need conventional/bi-di metering — see prepaid desks.

STS tips?

Keep token receipts when modelling savings.

Switch meter?

Cost and lead time — ask the metro.