A 7-Step Guide, Costs, Limits & Troubleshooting for South African Pre-paid Users
1. Why use the FNB App for electricity in 2025?
- Always-on convenience. 24/7 purchases straight from your phone—even during Stage 6.
- Low friction fees. Most FNB current accounts still charge around R2.60 per token purchase, far cheaper than queueing at a supermarket till.
- Generous limits. The app lets you buy up to R9 999 per transaction, handy for landlords topping up multiple meters.
- Rewards & freebies. Pay with eBucks, or claim Free Basic Electricity (FBE) if you qualify.
- Paper-free history. Forgot the 20-digit token? Pull it back in seconds from the app’s History tab.
2. What you need before you start
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Latest FNB Banking App (iOS/Android) | New interface clusters “Buy” > “Electricity” for quicker taps |
| Active FNB transactional account or credit card | Funds the purchase |
| Pre-paid meter number (11 or 13 digits) | You’ll enter this once, then save it |
| Cellphone number for SMS copy of the token | Backup in case you’re offline later |
3. Step-by-step: Buying electricity in the 2025 app
- Log in to the.
- Tap “Buy” on the bottom nav-bar.
- Select “Electricity”.
- Add or choose your meter number.
- Enter the rand amount (any value up to R9 999).
- Choose the funding account (Cheque, Fusion, Credit Card).
- Hit “Confirm” → Review the summary → “Purchase”.
- The app flashes a success screen with your 20-digit token and fires an inContact SMS/email for your records.
Quick tip: If Eskom is under strain, your token SMS can lag. Screenshot the on-screen token the moment it appears.
4. Fees, limits & eBucks sweeteners
| Item | 2025 snapshot* |
|---|---|
| Transaction fee | ± R2.60 per purchase (varies by account bundle) |
| Max per transaction | R9 999 |
| Daily limit | Your in-app “Payments & Limits” setting (default R20 000) |
| eBucks earn | Up to 15 % back for Private/Premier clients |
*FNB updates fees every July; check Menu > Rates & Pricing in-app for real-time figures.
5. How to retrieve a lost token
- Tap “Buy” → “History.”
- Choose the meter number.
- Scroll to the right date, tap “View Token.” Done.
6. Troubleshooting meter errors (KRN rollover)
If your meter spits out “Error 30” or rejects new tokens after 24 November 2024’s KRN2 deadline, it probably still runs on KRN1.
- Buy two Key-Change tokens in the app (they’ll arrive like normal tokens).
- Punch each 20-digit code into the meter, THEN your new voucher.
- Still stuck? Eskom’s provincial helplines can walk you through a manual reset.
7. Security & pro tips
- Enable biometric login for a one-touch purchase flow.
- Set payment limits you’re comfortable with under Profile → Settings → Limits.
- Auto-top-up with Scheduled Transfers so your meter never runs dry on game-night.
- Storm coming? Buy ahead—municipal servers sometimes buckle under severe load-shedding.
8. Final watt-age
Buying electricity via the FNB App in 2025 is quicker than boiling a cuppa on an induction plate—and costs less than a pack of two-minute noodles in fees. Update the app, remember your meter number, and you’re literally eight taps away from lights-on peace of mind.
Also read: How to Buy Electricity Using the Capitec App in 2025