The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Expensive electricity: what do the academy, stores and aid organizations think? - Walla! Of money

2023-01-06T05:47:42.202Z


The increase in electricity rates is one of the most serious price increases, perhaps because electricity has no alternative in the form of a discounted "private brand"


The electricity bill has become as threatening as the credit bill... (Photo: ShutterStock)

Of all the recent price increases, the most notable is the change in electricity rates.

The electric company warns of price increases, the public is called out, the elected officials fail to do much and in the end the price goes up and the public pays, because unlike any other product or service that can be consumed less or look for a cheaper replacement, electricity has no substitute: the private and commercial customer, the rich and the poor , who is cold in the winter and hot in the summer - we all use electricity.



Electricity rates became more expensive after at the end of last year the Electricity Authority announced that it intended to increase the price by 8.2% to 53.1 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) compared to 49.06 cents before VAT which was the price until now.

The reason for the increase this time, a second significant increase in several months, is a jump recorded this year in coal prices, which is used to produce 22% of Israel's electricity.

Prof. Arel Avinari, Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering (Photo: Afka College)

The price will continue to climb

"The increase in electricity prices is not the first and probably not the last in a series of expected increases in electricity prices," explains

Prof. Aral Avinari, head of the master's degree program in energy systems engineering and electric power supply at Afka, the Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering

.



"The increase reflects increases in the prices of electricity generation inputs, which are caused, among other things, by the war between Russia and Ukraine. Like most countries in the world, Israel also relies on fossil fuels, oil, natural gas and coal, and is therefore affected by global trends. The transition to the use of renewable energies, mainly against the background The depletion of fossil energy resources and the ecological damage caused as a result of this energy consumption and especially the effect on climate change is particularly slow in Israel.



Therefore, there is a high probability that even in the coming years, electricity prices will continue to climb.

Even the particularly high rate of natural reproduction in Israel, along with the increase in the level of consumption per inhabitant, has a major impact on the economic aspects of energy consumption in Israel - and mainly due to the need to develop infrastructures that will meet these demands."



What can be done to curb the increase in prices?


"A more massive shift to energy production Renewables, where most of the contribution will come from the utilization of solar energy in open and agricultural areas.

One of the challenges in this context is the existing shortage of land in Israel today and additional development and conservation constraints on the land resource due to the expected population growth, such as construction, agriculture and transportation."



According to the government's decision, by the year 2030 30% of electricity production in Israel will be from renewable energy, mainly solar-based and some wind-based, with an intermediate goal of 20% electricity production from renewable energies by the year 2025. "Experience shows that the Israeli government is unable to meet the goals it sets for itself. in reducing the use of coal and increasing the use of renewable energies," says Avinari.



"On the other hand, there are voices calling for the State of Israel to set more ambitious goals - and even to reach 95% renewable energies within 30 years. Thanks to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, Israel's electricity sector is a kind of "energy island" - when it is not possible to deliver or absorb energy Electricity from neighboring countries Therefore, it is possible and desirable to divert excess electricity production from renewable energies mainly for storage.



These are moves that involve increasing the storage capacity to a significant level and a large financial investment, but thanks to the economic and environmental benefits, this scenario must be examined and the road map created that will lead the State of Israel to economic stability and energy independence."

More in Walla!

Strategic location, spectacular view and luxurious apartments: the intriguing neighborhood being built in the center

In collaboration with Aora Real Estate

Nati Maktam, Product Engineering Manager at Electra Climate and Energy Systems (Photo: Courtesy of Electra)

It will be hot

Every Israeli child knows that home heating devices are energy consumers that affect the electricity bill.

In light of the recent price increase, the question arises as to whether it is possible to beat the electricity bill and soften the financial burden on Israeli homes.



"The air conditioner is the most economical and efficient means of heating," says

Nati Maktam, product engineering manager at Electra Climate and Energy Systems

.

"The reason for this lies in a term called the heat efficiency coefficient. The higher the heating efficiency coefficient (COP), the higher the ratio between the system's output and the electricity consumption of that device and it gives us more, and consumes less."



What causes the air conditioner to consume less electricity?


"The prolonged operation of the compressor at different frequencies in the inverter technology, compared to the switching on and off in normal air conditioners. The air conditioner works according to the output required in the room at any moment, no more and no less, instead of using the maximum output all the time. Many of the air conditioners are ON/OFF technology, which In fact, a technology that is more 'wasteful' in electricity and energy, and thus more harmful to the environment. Only 5% of air conditioners today have INVERTER technology."



Is there anything that can be done to help the air conditioner save?


"Activate the software - I feel. Press the I feel button on the air conditioner remote control and place it far away and in eye contact with the indoor unit. With this action, the feeling of temperature passes from the evaporator unit to the remote control, thus significantly improving the heating operation in the room space, and saving us from amplification The temperature is unnecessary. In addition, it is important to keep the filters clean, and clean them every 3 months and make sure that the shutters of the air outlet from the air conditioner are directed at an angle of 45 downwards, because the hot air emitted by the air conditioner rises up. This will create air circulation and more efficient air conditioning of the room."



Maktam explains that the recommended temperature for lower electricity consumption of the air conditioner is between 23-25 ​​degrees, but in the end it's about comfort and you can heat more or less if necessary.

"For example, as soon as we set a temperature above 27 degrees, the outdoor unit will work longer to reach the temperature we required in the room,

David Hakek, CEO of BSH (Photo: Inbal Marmari)

David Hakek, CEO of BSH,



the official importer of Bosch, Constructa ,

Gagnau and Siemens, agrees with the fact that the operating program of the electrical product affects the saving of the electricity it consumes.

In almost all ovens today and consumes less electricity.

When operating the washing machine or dishwasher, it is better to choose long-term programs that save a lot of electricity, and also water.

For example, the ECO program, which washes the clothes and dishes in a less intensive and longer way, saves electricity and money and achieves the same result."



Does the temperature of the water in the washing machine and dishwasher affect the electricity consumption?


"Definitely. Running the washing machine in the 90 degree boiling program consumes a lot of electricity, so it is recommended to run this program only when the machine is full. As for the washer dryer, it is important to choose a HeatPump dryer with a heat pump that produces hot air, in the same way as an air conditioner or refrigerator, without using a traditional heating element and wasteful.



The pump enables significant electricity savings of a few shekels per operation. In the dishwasher sector, it is advisable to use a dishwasher with zeolite - a synthetic mineral that does not harm nature and boils immediately in contact with water. The material absorbs moisture and emits heat, thus saving electricity. As for saving electricity in refrigerators" , Hakek explains, "There is a meaning to innovation. An old refrigerator consumes 4 times more electricity compared to the new refrigerators of today or those of a few years ago. For travelers abroad for a week or more, it is recommended to move the temperature of the refrigerator to 14 degrees considering that products such as tahini , ketchup, eggs can be at this temperature for a long time."



Is it also possible to choose in advance to purchase products with a low energy rating?


"That's right. Comparing a clothes dryer with a heat pump and energy rating A to a clothes dryer with a normal heating element and energy rating C, you see that a dryer with an energy rating A consumes 1.87 kWh compared to an energy rating C that consumes 4.68 kWh. If you translate that into money - Energy rating A requires 1.07 NIS per operating cycle compared to energy rating C requiring 2.68 NIS per operating cycle, which means saving quite a bit of electricity and money in the long term (according to 57 cents per kWh mg)".

Eran Weintraub, CEO of Leta Organization (Photo: Oz Moalem)

Mocking Resh

Eran Weintraub, CEO of the Leta organization

, which works to reduce poverty for the sake of creating a just and better society while helping populations in need, motivating civil society for mutual commitment and giving and leading a change in the national priority order, says that over the years Israel has become a rich country for poor people.



"The outbreak of the Corona virus and the war between Russia and Ukraine have led to a global increase in the prices of raw materials, transportation and energy, with the continuation of the trend being expressed in inflation and the increase in interest rates in the economy, alongside additional increases in the prices of electricity, fuel, food and other consumer products.

The cost of living does indeed affect many, but it first and foremost hurts the weaker sections, who find it difficult to survive and meet the basic needs necessary to live with dignity and forget that their buying was limited even before."



How does this manifest itself in everyday dealings?


"One of the clear expressions that illustrate the meaning of living in poverty is the system of concessions that the elderly, families and children are forced to make due to the economic hardship. Poor families find themselves debating on a daily basis whether to buy food or medicine, pay rent or the electricity bill."



What does the increase in electricity prices mean for poor families

?


"For normal families, dealing with unexpected expenses is a part of life. But according to Leta's alternative poverty report for 2022, 76% of aid supporters will not be able to deal with an unexpected expense or at most will be able to pay tens of shekels.

Only 7.8% will be able to handle an unplanned expenditure of more than NIS 1,000.



In the alternative poverty report, among other things, an examination was conducted in relation to "energy poverty", which means the inability to ensure sufficient energy for the basic needs of the household, such as: supplying hot water, heating the house or operating electrical appliances. As part of the developed estimate, it was discovered that 86 % of the aid supporters are in a state of energy shortage, of which 38.5% are in a state of severe energy shortage.



51.2% of the aid supporters were disconnected from electricity or received a warning letter before disconnection, 53.3% could not afford to operate heating or cooling means according to their needs and a fifth (20.4%) There is absolutely no such means and they cannot buy for themselves. In addition, 44.2% of the aid supporters had to choose frequently between paying the electricity bill and between the purchase of basic products such as food or prescription drugs."



And winter adds another challenge related to electricity - we have to warm up.


"True. And with the sharp rise in electricity prices, it will make it even more difficult for families and deepen the poverty and shortage they are in. It is impossible to accept a reality in which a Holocaust survivor wraps himself in several blankets because he is afraid to turn on the stove because he has no way to pay the electricity bill."

  • Of money

Tags

  • electrical power

  • electric bill

Source: walla

All business articles on 2023-01-06

You may like

News/Politics 2024-03-15T17:06:08.189Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.