Last update - 00:00 14/01/2008
At peak of cold front, electricity demand may reach all-time high
By Haaretz Service
The Israel Electric Corporation expects the consumption of electricity on Monday evening to reach an all-time high as a result of the severe cold front that has swept Israel in the last several days.
The electricity demand on Monday afternoon stood at 10,200 megawatts - only 400 megawatts less than the maximal production capability.
The Israel Electric Corporation has warned that if the demand increases, it will need to cut power for small periods of time around the country. The company called on the public to refrain from using "electricity-guzzling" appliances between 5 and 9 P.M.
In addition, the electricity company will enact for the first time an arrangement under which major consumption bodies will receive financial incentives for reducing their activities during peak hours.
Two people have died as a result of the recent cold front. A homeless man died on Sunday in Holon at the entrance to a locked shelter, and on Saturday, a 78-year-woman in Be'er Sheva died after being hospitalized with her body temperature measuring at 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
The cold front will continue on Tuesday, and temperatures will only rise slightly on Wednesday.
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