High Court of Justice ruled: Debtors who have financial difficulties will not be disconnected from electricity

January 20, 2022   

The Supreme Court ruled this morning (Thursday) that the Israel Electric Company will not disconnect electricity from citizens in debt who prove that they are in financial difficulties and have a medical condition that requires it. Experts clash? The convoluted storm surrounding the coronavirus vaccine According to a report by Amotz Shapira in Kan News, the company is required to amend the criteria that define which populations are protected from disconnection due to debt. "Basic electricity supply is currently considered an essential commodity without which it is impossible to lead a routine lifestyle," it was determined. The petitioners argued that a regular right of argument should be guaranteed before disconnection, and that the possibility of collecting some of the past debts by offsetting them against payment for future electricity consumption should be eliminated. During the period in which the petition was discussed, protection against disconnection was expanded in relation to additional categories of medical emergencies, but no other changes were made. The existing arrangement has until now protected Holocaust survivors and those defined as "consumers for whom electricity supply is essential" for health reasons, according to a closed list. It has now been determined that the electric company will be required to collect debts using "more moderate" collection methods and not disconnect the protected from electricity. The Supreme Court also ruled that the company must regulate, in accordance with the criteria, a procedure for hearing the consumer's claims and examining his individual circumstances, before making a decision to disconnect, and adopt an orderly and detailed procedure that will determine the practical principles for implementing the amended arrangement. [sc name="111" ]