The growing criticism of Israel Electric Company’s (IEC) handling of the blizzard of 2013 is growing in momentum and amid the voices heard in the media is that of Doron Rubin, who wrote a scathing report citing the utility company’s blunders in the blizzard of 1992, which was less severe than the current storm by far.

Rubin told Maariv that he is simply beside himself for he believed the utility company implemented some of the recommendations included in the 1992 report, but based on IEC’s performance in the blizzard, it is evident to all that nothing has changed!

Back in 1992 then IEC CEO Moshe Katz announced “it was a natural disaster and there was nothing that could have been done”, as the storm left half of the capital’s residents without power. However, Energy Minister at the time Prof. Yuval Ne’eman did not agree and he appointed a board of inquiry, which was headed by Rubin. Rubin was extremely critical of two individuals, the head of IEC’s Jerusalem District, Danny Cohen and the utility company’s spokesman, Avery Raviv.

The report prepared by Rubin stated that while the blizzard in ’92 was unusual in its severity, it can occur again at some future date and IEC must prepare for such an eventuality.

Commenting following the latest blizzard Rubin explained “I sense the anatomy of another dismal failure, one similar to the occurrence 22 years ago. A company whose CEO returned from a trip abroad on Friday cannot be a company that stands ready for a crisis. Forecaster predicted a heavy winter storm two weeks in advance. Nevertheless, we were taken by surprise once again like in 1992. Once again IEC failed, taking the utility company 48 hours to realize it is in the midst of a crisis. The failure is not just IEC’s but the entire system failed to prepare for the storm. The prime minister should not have to have stepped in. senior government agency officials are responsible to carry the ball but they failed.”

Regarding reports from IEC officials that work crews were unable to reach downed wires, Rubin rejects the statement for he feels after learning lessons from 1992 the proper equipment should have been available over 20 years later, calling the claim “absurd” that the utility announces it is capable of making repairs but it cannot reach the damage areas. “What’s the problem here? I know many contractors that could have been hired to plow areas to clear the way for IEC work crews” Rubin cites in his latest criticism of IEC.

Rubin explains the handling of the blizzard on a national level was dismal at best, questioning why a lesson is not taken from the Druse community, “which was hit no less than Tzfas” he cites. The Druse community took forecasters’ reports seriously and they stocked up on kerosene for heating and food, and after the storm hit they remains quiet, well stocked to get through the tough days that followed the storm.

Rubin also discards the claims by IEC that work crews “worked day and night”, placing things into proportion as they worked extended shifts and received premium overtime for doing their jobs. “My report [of 1992] was part of the curriculum in IEC School for years, but it appears other than review it nothing was done to implement change.”

Attorney Yitzchak Lacks, who heads the IEC Board of Directors Audit Committee, praises the performance of the utility company in the latest blizzard. Lacks explains it was a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion and the utility company cannot be blamed. “Even forecasters failed to predict the magnitude of the storm” Lacks added.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)