Officials in the Ministry of Environmental Affairs are concerned over the approval of a significant reduction in the cost of electricity to private and commercial clients. They feel the move will lead to a significant increase in demand, which ultimately will lead to the need to build additional electric plants that significantly harm the environment.

Environmental officials explain the proper way to share the lower cost of electricity with consumers is by subsidizing energy efficient and ‘green’ appliances, not by encouraging a greater use of electricity.

The Public Utilities Committee earlier in the week approved a 10% reduction for private homes and a 16% reduction in electric rates for commercial users.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)