Electricity has been fully restored to residents of Modiin Illit following extensive power outages that struck the predominantly haredi city on Friday afternoon and continued through Shabbat, the Israel Electric Corporation announced.
The blackouts left thousands of families without power for hours during critical pre-Shabbat preparation time, with some neighborhoods experiencing outages that extended past candle-lighting. Crews worked throughout the incident to locate the source of the failure and complete necessary field repairs, according to the utility company.
Initial investigations by the corporation indicate that the area is experiencing demand significantly higher than planned capacity during peak hours. Company officials say part of this gap stems from electrical connections and increased consumption that were never reported to the utility, and therefore were not factored into infrastructure planning for the region.
This situation creates exceptional strain on existing infrastructure, particularly during peak hours, and can lead to service disruptions, the company stated.
Beyond addressing the immediate outage, the Israel Electric Corporation and Modiin Illit municipality are working to develop a comprehensive long-term solution. A joint professional inspection is scheduled for tomorrow morning, during which utility engineers and city representatives will examine existing infrastructure, identify stress points, and assess current and future needs. The goal is to advance solutions that will strengthen service reliability and prevent similar incidents.
The inspection comes against a backdrop of recurring power failures in the city that have intensified resident frustration, especially given the heat and the fact that several incidents occurred on Friday afternoons and during Shabbat itself.
The initiative also follows an appeal by Knesset member Avi Maoz to Israel Electric Corporation CEO Meir Spiegler, demanding a thorough investigation of the repeated failures and a permanent solution for city residents. Maoz argued that Modiin Illit residents cannot continue suffering from recurring outages without systemic resolution, and called for root-cause treatment that would ensure stable electricity supply even during heat waves.
The utility company emphasized it will continue working in cooperation with the municipality, both to address ongoing outages and to advance systemic solutions designed to improve service reliability for Modiin Illit residents.
The weekend saw power failures affect three major haredi cities—Modiin Illit, Bnei Brak, and Rekhasim—leaving thousands of families without electricity during critical Friday afternoon hours and throughout Shabbat. The recurring failures have sparked anger and sharp criticism among residents, who point to serious infrastructure deficiencies.
In Modiin Illit, the widespread Friday outage forced thousands of residents to wait for hours without knowing when service would be restored. In some parts of the city, power returned only half an hour before Shabbat began, after many families had already faced severe difficulties completing Shabbat preparations in the oppressive heat.
In other neighborhoods, electricity was not restored until an hour after Shabbat had commenced. "We had a power outage starting at four in the afternoon," residents told Kikar HaShabbat, the source publication. "We were left without much food because we didn't have time to cook, and Shabbat came in with a gloomy atmosphere because we had no main course and no cholent."
