IEC prepares for electricity 'drought'

A week long exercise commenced Monday morning at the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) headquarters in Haifa. The exercise is supposed to examine whether Israel's power production capabilities are summer-ready. The exercise is of a sensitive nature this year, in light of the severe electricity shortage expected in Israel this summer. According to senior IEC officials, the summer of 2012 will see the Israeli market get closer and closer to an unprecedented point where citizens will be forced to deal with numerous power outages following a dramatic decrease in the country's electricity reserves – a level of just 2%-3% of the supply. In this situation, any disruption to the generators' activities at the IEC power stations could leave Israel without any backup and cause a lengthy power outage. According to Dov Strolovitch, Central Dispatch Center Manager, the IEC needs an additional 280 mega-watts to ensure that Israel's summer goes ahead without a hitch. According to Meteorological Service estimates, the major 'test' of Israel's electrical system will be on the week of June 17-23. A major heat wave is supposed to hit on June 18 and the IEC is expecting record breaking demand which increases the chances of a generator failure. The high demand could then lead to a shortage in electricity. During the exercise which will simulate the critical week, IEC employees will practice operating the system through the three stages implemented when electricity supplies run out. The measures taken during the exercise will include short power outages which, according to IEC Chairman Eli Glickman, will be spread equally throughout the country and among citizens will receive advanced notice of the "stress reduction" a short time before it occurs. Moreover, the IEC has created a list of priorities determining "sensitive" sectors where power cuts must be avoided. These include hospitals, defense systems and homes where life saving electrical equipment is in use. Both the Energy Ministry and the IEC are interested in letting the public know just how pressing the situation is and how they can contribute in efforts to ensure Israel's summer is not plagued by lengthy power outages. Energy and Water Resources Ministry Director-General Shaul Tzemach noted that "The more the public responds (to our call) and decreases demand, the better for the environment, the economy and the energy supply." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter