The ZESCO Guide: Why Your Units Get Expensive Every Month
Intro
Have you ever wondered why K200 gives you a lot of units on the 1st of the month, but very few units if you buy again on the 20th? No, it’s not a “system error”—it’s the ZESCO Tariff Band System.
In November 2024, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) introduced an Emergency Tariff due to the power crisis. Here is exactly how you are being billed today.
1. The “Step-Up” Rule: How it Works
ZESCO uses a Progressive Tariff. This means the more you buy in a single calendar month, the more expensive each unit becomes. On the 1st of every month, your “counter” resets to zero, and you start at the cheapest price again.
2. Residential Tariff Breakdown (2026 Emergency Rates)
If you are a normal household, your electricity is split into these “Bands.” Think of these as buckets you have to fill up.
| Band | Unit Range | Price per Unit (K) | Total Cost for this Band |
| Band 1 | First 100 Units | K0.35 | K35.00 |
| Band 2 | 101 to 200 Units | K1.00 | K100.00 |
| Band 3 & 4 | 201 to 400 Units | K2.42 | K484.00 |
| Band 5+ | Above 400 Units | K3.45+ | Expensive! |
3. The “K619” Magic Number
For most middle-class Zambian homes, K619 is the most important number to remember.
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If you spend K619, you get exactly 400 units.
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This is enough to run a fridge, lights, and a TV for a month if you are careful.
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The Trap: As soon as you spend K620, every extra kwH is charged at the “Luxury” rate of K3.45.
4. Practical Examples (What your money gets you)
To make it simple, here is what happens when you go to the booth or use MoMo:
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If you buy K135: You get 200 units. (This is the “Sweet Spot” for low-income households).
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If you buy K619: You get 400 units. (This is the standard for most families).
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If you buy K1,000: You only get about 510 units.
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Notice the difference? The first K619 got you 400 units, but the next K381 only got you 110 units!
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5. How to Simulate Your Bill
If you want totry and predict exactly how much you will get, ZESCO has a great tool.
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Go to: The ZESCO Tariff Simulator
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Enter your Meter Number Amount: Type in how much Kwacha you want to spend.
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Check your “Month to Date”: The simulator assumes you are buying for the first time in the month. If you have already bought units this month, your next purchase will automatically start at a higher (more expensive) band.
6. Technical Details
While the “Emergency Tariffs” are currently active, the ERB has a Multi-Year Tariff (2023–2027) plan.
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The Emergency Tariff is cheaper for the first 100 units (K0.35 vs K0.44) to help people during load shedding.
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However, the Emergency Tariff is much more expensive for high users (Above 500 units is K6.39 per unit!) to discourage wasting power.
Great Tips for Saving Money:
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The 1st of the Month Strategy: Always try to buy your “Main” electricity on the 1st or 2nd day of the month. This ensures you fill your cheap “Band 1” and “Band 2” buckets immediately.
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Monitor Your Meter: Most CIU meters (the box in your house) can show you how many units you have used this month. Press 07 followed by Enter on most hexing meters to see your consumption.
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Avoid the “R6” Band: If you use more than 500 units, you are paying K6.39 per unit. At that price, it is actually cheaper to buy a Solar Inverter!
