Haifa Court Seeks Electricity Authority Stance in Solar Billing Dispute

The Haifa District Court has decided to adopt the Electricity Authority's reasoned stance in a legal dispute over the calculation method used by the Israel Electric Corporation for solar system owners. The ruling was issued within a class action lawsuit filed against the utility company, claiming that its current calculation method overestimates self-consumption and leads to overcharging.

The plaintiff, represented by attorneys Doron Radai and Nitzan Gadot, argues that the calculation method contradicts regulatory provisions and legislative intent. At the heart of the legal battle lies a fundamental question: how to calculate electricity generated by a rooftop solar system and consumed directly on-site when no dedicated production meter is installed.

According to the lawsuit, the Israel Electric Corporation calculates estimated production based on the inverter's capacity rather than the solar panels' actual capacity. When the inverter capacity exceeds the panels' output, this approach potentially inflates the calculated generation volume, resulting in system owners being billed for electricity the installation could not physically produce.

The Israel Electric Corporation rejected the allegations, maintaining that its calculation method fully complies with regulatory standards and professional guidelines. The company noted that in the specific case, the inverter capacity stood at 15 kilowatts compared to solar panels yielding approximately 8.9 kilowatts, illustrating a significant financial disparity.

Following a hearing before Judge Ibrahim Boulos, the court instructed the parties to formally request a comprehensive legal opinion from the Electricity Authority within 45 days. The court has not yet certified the class action or ruled whether overpayments occurred, though the final decision will impact numerous solar system owners across the country.