"The beginning of a new era": Citizens who have not been able to pay for electricity will not be cut off from it

According to the petition received by the High Court, the Electricity Authority will be required to extend the criteria for preventing disconnection to a difficult economic situation, in contrast to the current situation that prevents disconnection from electricity, including Holocaust survivors.

Yael Friedson

20/01/2022

Thursday, 20 January 2022, 16:20 Updated: 22:03

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Protest against the electricity poles in Ramon Crater (Pillar protest tent in Ramon Crater)

The High Court

today (Thursday) accepted the petitions against binding power outages, and ruled that basic electricity supply is now considered an essential commodity without which a routine lifestyle can not be conducted, and is part of the right to a minimum dignity and the right to life and health.

Disconnection also to a difficult economic situation, in contrast to the current situation which prevents electricity disconnection of Holocaust survivors and people who need electricity from a health point of view, and collect the debt by more moderate means such as regular debt.

The verdict written by Judge Dafna Barak-Erez opens with the words "Let there be light", and continues: "This is the beginning of the story of the creation of the world presented in the book of Genesis. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine life without light. Basic conditions are required for lighting and the operation of essential appliances that are in daily use, such as a refrigerator. "

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Barak-Erez also wrote in the ruling: "It must be admitted: basic electricity supply as part of ensuring the right to a minimum subsistence is based on the existence and operation of a functioning electricity network, and does not depend on air space. As already explained, Without payment, but the question of the methods of collection - when there is no dispute about the very existence of the debt. "

Petitioners Maskit Bendel from the Association for Civil Rights and Adi Nir Binyamini from the Clinic for Human Rights at Tel Aviv University responded to the ruling: "On the coldest day of the year when people are left without heating, the High Court accepted our position that the right to electricity Respectfully stated that the Electricity Authority should amend the standards for power outages, not disconnect people due to poverty, and collect the debt by more moderate means that do not involve power outages. It is also forbidden to continue unplugging without a fair procedure and hearing the consumer. We hope that the ruling, which opens with the words, "Let there be light," heralds the beginning of a new era when it comes to protecting vulnerable populations from power outages. "

Justice Minister Gideon Saar responded to the ruling: "The court was right when it ruled that citizens could not be disconnected from electricity as a means of collecting debts without taking into account their economic situation. The Electricity Authority will now be required to examine new criteria for disconnecting electricity and debt collection."

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