Buy LUKU with mobile money in Tanzania (M-Pesa, Mixx, Airtel) 2026

LUKU is TANESCO's prepaid electricity token system — you buy a code on your phone, type it into your meter, and lights come on. Every major Tanzanian mobile money wallet (M-Pesa, Mixx by Yas, Airtel Money) buys LUKU directly from its menu. Here's the exact USSD path per wallet, the meter-number step, the SMS token delivery, and what to do when the token doesn't arrive.

Share on WhatsApp

✓ Verified June 2026.Bill-pay steps and USSD codes verified against TANESCO and the operator sources (vodacom.co.tz, yas.co.tz/mixx-by-yas, airtel.co.tz).

What LUKU is, exactly

LUKU (Lipia Umeme Kadiri Unavyotumia — pay-as-you-use electricity) is TANESCO's prepaid electricity token system. Your meter has a unique account number. You buy electricity in arbitrary TSh amounts via your mobile wallet, TANESCO returns a 20-digit token by SMS, you punch it into the meter, and the meter credits the kilowatt-hours.

Buying LUKU through mobile money is the dominant retail channel in Tanzania — both faster than queuing at a TANESCO office and available 24/7. Yas explicitly publishes a LUKU/TUKUZA token recovery service under Mixx by Yas; Vodacom's M-Pesa surfaces LUKU at the top of its bill-pay menu; Airtel Money exposes the same.

Step-by-step: buying LUKU on M-Pesa

Dial *150*00#.
Select 'Pay Bill' → 'TANESCO' (or 'LUKU' directly in the recent menu version).
Enter the 6-12 digit meter number (printed on your meter face).
Enter the TSh amount you want to spend (any amount; small amounts give fewer kWh).
Enter your M-Pesa PIN to confirm.
Receive two SMS: one confirms the wallet debit; the second carries the 20-digit LUKU token.
Punch the token into the meter keypad and press enter — the meter beeps and credits the kWh.

Step-by-step: buying LUKU on Mixx by Yas (formerly Tigo Pesa)

Dial *150*01# (the Mixx by Yas USSD entry, replaces the old Tigo Pesa code).
Select 'Bill Pay' → 'TANESCO LUKU' (or 'TUKUZA' if your meter requires it).
Enter the meter number and the TSh amount; enter PIN.
Token arrives by SMS. Yas exposes a 'Resend LUKU/TUKUZA token' option in customer service if the SMS gets lost.
Same as Mixx Super App: Bills → TANESCO LUKU → meter number → amount → confirm. Token appears in the in-app history alongside the SMS.

Step-by-step: buying LUKU on Airtel Money

Dial *150*60#.
Select 'Pay Bills' → 'TANESCO LUKU'.
Meter number → amount → PIN. SMS with token follows.

Common LUKU problems and the fix

Token doesn't arrive: confirm debit in mini-statement; use Resend Token in operator menu; if still missing call 100 with the transaction reference.
Wrong meter number: the token is locked to that meter and is not reversible by the wallet. Contact TANESCO directly via 0734 222 222 with the meter number and token — they can re-issue for the correct meter on a case basis.
Meter says 'reject' on entering token: the token may have been used already (each is single-use), or the meter has a queue backlog. Try a power cycle on the meter; if still rejected, the token's wallet history will help TANESCO trace it.

Why LUKU drives so much Tanzanian mobile money volume

Tanzania has near-universal LUKU meter penetration in urban and grid-connected rural areas, and TANESCO has long encouraged mobile-money purchase over cash-at-office. The result: LUKU is one of the top recurring bill-pay use cases for every Tanzanian mobile wallet — appearing in operator documentation as a first-class menu item alongside send-money and cash-out, not a secondary feature.

Bill-pay steps and USSD codes verified June 2026 against TANESCO and the Vodacom / Yas / Airtel operator sources; reviewed quarterly.

Frequently asked questions

Are there operator fees on buying LUKU with mobile money?

On most operators in Tanzania the LUKU purchase fee is either free or a small fixed amount; the value you pay matches the LUKU amount plus a published per-transaction service charge where one applies. Always verify the deducted amount against the SMS confirmation before re-purchasing.

My LUKU token didn't arrive — what now?

Wait 5 minutes (TANESCO occasionally batches token issuance). If still nothing: dial *150*01# → Mixx → Mini Statement (or the equivalent on your wallet) to confirm the debit went through, then use the operator's 'Resend LUKU/TUKUZA token' menu — Yas exposes this under Mixx by Yas customer service. If the debit posted but no token, call your wallet's care line (100) with the transaction reference; the token will be re-pushed.

Can I buy LUKU for someone else's meter?

Yes — the LUKU purchase flow only requires the meter number, not the wallet owner's name. Many Tanzanian households buy a relative's LUKU from a city wallet to keep up-country lights on. The token is delivered to the BUYER's phone via SMS; share the 20-digit token with the meter owner.

Is LUKU different from TUKUZA?

LUKU is TANESCO's standard prepaid electricity token. TUKUZA is a related token used on certain newer meter classes; Yas explicitly references both under the same Mixx by Yas service flow. If your meter accepts TUKUZA, the wallet menu will route you there automatically based on the meter number.