Ever Wonder Why There Are Fewer Pre-paid Units This Time?
- Karen Scheepers
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
If you’ve bought prepaid electricity in Potchefstroom recently and noticed you’re getting fewer units for the same amount of money, you’re not alone. Many households have experienced this, for example, receiving 82.9 kWh for R200 one week, and only 72 kWh for the same R200 just a few days later.
This isn’t because your meter is faulty or because the municipality secretly increased prices overnight. It’s due to how the Inclining Block Tariff system works.
How Potchefstroom’s Prepaid Rates Work
In the JB Marks Municipality (Potchefstroom), residential prepaid electricity is charged in blocks. The more units you buy in a single month, the more expensive each additional unit becomes.
2025 Prepaid Household Tariffs – JB Marks
Example: Why 82.9 kWh Became 72 kWh… and Keeps Dropping
Purchase Date | Monthly kWh so far | Block Used | Units Bought in Block | Rate incl. VAT | Cost for Block | Total Units |
1 Aug 2025 | 0 kWh | Block 1 | 50.0 kWh | R2.1722 | R108.61 | |
Block 2 | 32.9 kWh | R2.7779 | R91.30 | 82.9 kWh | ||
7 Aug 2025 | 82.9 kWh | Block 2 | 72.0 kWh | R2.7779 | R200.00 | 72.0 kWh |
14 Aug 2025 | 154.9 kWh | Block 2 | 38.0 kWh (till 350 kWh total) | R2.7779 | R105.56 | |
Block 3 | 34.0 kWh | R3.9218 | R133.33 | 72.0 kWh | ||
21 Aug 2025 | 226.9 kWh | Block 3 | 51.0 kWh | R3.9218 | R200.00 | 51.0 kWh |
Key points:
The first purchase includes cheap Block 1 units, so it’s the best value.
By the second purchase, Block 1 is gone, so all units cost more (Block 2 rate).
By the third purchase, you cross into Block 3 mid-transaction, so some units are even pricier.
By the fourth purchase, the entire amount is in Block 3, giving the fewest units yet.
Tips to Understand and Plan Your Purchases
Know when your block resets – JB Marks resets usage on the 1st of each month. Your first purchase after that will always give the best value.
Spread usage wisely – Buying smaller amounts more often won’t restart the cheap blocks. The system tracks total monthly usage, not purchase size.
Track your kWh – If you’re approaching the next block threshold, be aware that every extra unit will cost more.
Check official tariffs – Rates change every July, so keep an eye on the municipality’s updates.
Where to Get Help
Account statements: JB Marks Cabedocs Portal
Token or meter issues:
Other Prepaid Models: Flat Rates or Fixed Monthly
For household/residential prepaid in Potchefstroom (JB Marks), there is no alternate “one price for all units” plan and no fixed monthly service fee deducted from prepaid purchases. JB Marks uses a four-block Inclining Block Tariff (IBT) for residential prepaid. Your per-unit price depends on your total kWh in the calendar month, not how many times you buy.
What exists vs. what doesn’t (Potchefstroom)
Option | Does JB Marks offer this to residential prepaid? | What it means in practice |
Inclining Block Tariff (IBT) | Yes | 0–50 kWh cheapest; price per unit rises in higher monthly blocks. |
Flat one-rate plan (same c/kWh no matter how much you use) | No | Not available for municipal residential prepaid in Potch. |
Fixed monthly fee on prepaid (service/wires charge) | No | Prepaid customers don’t have a standing fee deducted from purchases. |
Conventional/postpaid domestic with a basic charge | Yes (different product) | Shown on some tariff sheets as “Basic charge”. This applies to conventional billed accounts, not prepaid. |
Free Basic Electricity (FBE) for registered indigent households | Yes | Typically 50 kWh per month if you’re approved under the indigent policy. |
Why the image lists a “Basic charge”: That line refers to conventional/postpaid domestic tariffs (a monthly fixed fee on the bill). Prepaid customers in Potchefstroom don’t pay this fee; you only pay for the kWh you load, at the applicable block rate.
Practical implications for Potch households
Your first purchase each month stretches furthest because it includes the 0–50 kWh block.
Later purchases are priced in higher blocks, so fewer units for the same Rand is expected.
There’s no way to switch residential prepaid to a municipal flat-rate or fixed-fee plan at this stage.
If you think you might qualify for indigent/FBE, apply via the municipality, those 50 kWh can materially reduce your average price
Note: These rates apply only to residential prepaid electricity in the JB Marks Local Municipality (Potchefstroom). Each municipality sets its own tariffs and may have different pricing structures or plan options. Always confirm with your local municipality for the most accurate and up-to-date rates.
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