Consumer Group Claims Electricity Bills Skyrocketing

A consumer advocacy group, "HaMevakrim" (The Critics), has posted a video alleging that many Israelis are receiving unusually high electricity bills, with some amounts reportedly thousands of shekels above their usual average. The group is urging the public to share their own bill amounts and demand explanations from the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). "It's not clear at all what's happening at the IEC, we're getting endless messages. People don't complain for no reason," a spokesperson for the group stated in the video. The spokesperson cited personal examples, saying they paid 1,700 shekels for a two-month period for a two-person apartment, and a friend paid 2,200 shekels. "HaMevakrim" aims to mobilize public pressure on the IEC by encouraging followers to comment with their bill amounts to "put pressure on the IEC." The group promised to provide updates once the IEC responds. The article notes that these are currently allegations, and the amount of a bill alone is insufficient to determine if it is erroneous. To verify a bill, one must compare the billing period and electricity consumption, and check how the consumption was read. The Israel Consumer Council explains that bills indicate the type of meter reading, and if a meter reading was not performed, the bill may be based on an estimated consumption, which can help in clarifying the issue with the company. As of the report, the IEC had not yet responded to the "HaMevakrim" video.