Ramat HaSharon Mayor Shira Avin is calling for an investigation into the widespread power outages that began on Sunday 12 Cheshvan during the first winter storm. Israel Electric Company (IEC) senior officials apologized to the public, stating it was not prepared for such a violent storm.

Mayor Avin adds that it is not just the fact there were widespread outages that left 200,000 residents in the dark, but 48 hours after the storm began tens of thousands are still without power. She calls the situation “an outrage”, and she feels that the fact senior IEC officials shifted the blame on employees only exacerbates the situation and adds to their malfeasance.

Avin is calling for the establishment of an investigatory committee to probe the utility company’s senior management’s failures. Mayor Avin sent a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Minister of National Infrastructure Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan and State Comptroller Justice Yosef Shapira.

In her letter the mayor explains that many residents of her city were hit with power outages which left thousands literally in the dark. She questions how such a situation can occur in today’s modern world with all the available technological advances. She adds that even if the blackouts were not preventable, there is no excuse for the lag in getting power back to homes, with tens of thousands still in the dark after 72 hours.

Mayor Avin asks the prime minister to bring this matter to the cabinet and to take the appropriate actions to prevent a reoccurrence in the future.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)