Electricity Bill Discounts for Needy Ensured

Populations in need were assured of a continuation of a discount on their electricity bills in the coming year by Energy, Water and National Infrastructures Minister Silvan Shalom on Wednesday.

Those eligible for the discount include pensioners, the disabled, Holocaust survivors and soldiers without family in the country, the ministry said.

The new regulations provide eligible consumers with a 50-percent discount on domestic electricity bills for the first 400 kilowatt-hours each month, the ministry said. Bituach Leumi, the National Insurance Institute, rules on eligibility. Electricity prices last rose on May 16, to 54.03 agorot per kilowatt-hour, equivalent to 63.22 agorot per kilowatt-hour with the 17% in tax.

By approving the electricity discounts, Shalom stressed that he was “keeping with the promise” he made when he took office, to lower rates paid by needy populations but also by consumers in general.

“This price discount joins a reduction in water prices of 5% announced recently,” he said.
“This is another step in lowering the cost of living, and we will continue this trend soon in other sectors.”

This article appeared in print on page 7 of the December 27th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.