Month: July 2009

Nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil, addressing business and technology, politics and advocacy, and public education and media. >

Nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil, addressing business and technology, politics and advocacy, and public education and media. >

Demand for energy is usual seasonal, depending very much on weather conditions. In Israel for instance, demand for electricity is seasonal. The highest levels of demand are in summer (due to the use of air conditioners) and in winter (due to the use of heaters) compared to transitional seasons. Not only is average demand higher in winter and summer, but the days of extreme heat or cold are also responsible for periods of peak demand. IEC’s income in the different seasons is also affected by changes in the rates for consumers who pay according to load and time (LTR), who represent about 58.6% of total consumption, since the LTR rates are higher on average in summer than in the transitional seasons. In this context, the four seasons are defined summer (July to September), winter (December to March), and the transitional seasons – spring (April to June) and fall (October to November). Traditionally around the world, natural gas has been a seasonal fuel, namely with higher consumption during winter partly because it is used for heat in residential and commercial settings. In Israel too gas consumed by Israel Electric differs with the changing rate of electricity consumption depending on the seasons and according to IEC’s maintenance program. The third quarter of the year (the summer months) sees the highest rate of electricity consumption and thus gas consumption in Israel.