Electricity, Gas and Water

The following is an overview of how to set up basic utilities in your new home in Israel.

For a translation of electricity bills, click here.
For a translation of the Electric Company's Hebrew-language answering machine, please see www.anglo-list.com (under the Directory menu).

For a do-it-yourself fix-it guide to common home repairs, see http://choveveitzion.com/

Electricity
When moving into a new apartment, it is advisable to switch the electric bill to your name, even if you are renting. This will avoid confusion when the time comes to pay the bill.

How do you transfer the electric bill to your name?

Read the current number on the apartment's electric meter Meter reading
Dial 103
Give the contract number which is on the top left of the electric bill
Ask for a final check
Give your name, Teudat Zehut number and phone number
The new bill will now list your name

Tips:

The electric bill will be sent to you every two months.
Keep in mind that your monthly bill will include the monthly payment and a kilowatt per hour rate, based on usage. In addition, there is a one-time fee for transferring the bill (which will be added to your first bill).

Click here for an English translation of an electric bill.

Gas
There are two ways in which the gas is set up in apartments and houses:

Central gas tank (provides gas for the whole building). The central gas tank is refilled automatically by the gas company.
Private 12/48 kg. gas tanks. When using a private gas tank, you should keep track of the refill date.

Tips:

In addition to powering a gas stove, gas is also used for heating. In some homes the building has a central heating system, which uses gas for heat. In other homes, you may have a private gas heating system (known as 'Yoonkers').
If you suspect a gas leak in your apartment, immediately call your gas company. Open your windows and leave your house.

Company	Phone #	Website
Amisra Gas	1-700-701-702	www.amisragas.co.il
PazGaz	1-800-667-788	http://www.pazgas.co.il
Super Gas	*3114	http://www.supergas.co.il

Water
Every municipality has its own company that deals with the administration and billing for water and sewage services. Some companies are part of the municipality itself, and are therefore dealt within the municipality offices: however, others are private companies, with whom you will need to deal directly. The following page specifies the different companies and municipalities, as well as how to transfer the bill to your name.

Tips:

In some places, the water bill is included as part of your Arnona (municipal tax) bill or as part of the Yishuv taxes, and in other places you will receive independent bills. Please note that if you are receiving an Oleh discount for Arnona, it will not apply to the water bill.
The water bill contains three components:

Personal consumption (צריכה פרטית ) – the difference between the current meter reading and the previous one.
Shared consumption (צריכה משותפת ) – the difference between the sum of consumption in all of the building's personal meters and the consumption read in the main water meter, divided by all apartments.
Sewage fee (ביוב ) – the water used by an apartment for sewage, if it is connected to the local sewage system.

The water bill does not come every month, but rather once every two to three months.
A Dud Shemesh (דוד שמש – solar heated water tank) is commonly used in the winter for heating water. The dud shemesh is located on your roof. During the winter you will need to turn on the "boiler" 30 - 60 minutes prior to showering in order to have hot water. (Please note: Gas can also be used to heat water. For more information, call the gas companies on the previous page).

City

Customer
Service #

Website

Transferring the Bill to
Your Name

Be'er Sheva
(Mei Sheva)

08-620-6511

http://www.beer-sheva.muni.il/

Call Mei Sheva for instructions

Beit
Shemesh
(Municipality)

1-700-500-521

http://betshemesh.muni.il

Go to the municipality with
copy of your lease agreement,
Teudat Zehut, and the recent
water-meter reading

Efrat
(Municipality)

02 -993-9324

http://www.efrata.muni.il

Haifa(Municipality)

1-700-700-060

http://www.haifa.muni.il

Call the Haifa Municipality
for instructions

Jerusalem
(Municipality)

*2070 or
02-565-1111

www.hagihon.co.il

Sign a form declaring that
you are the new tenant.
This form can be
downloaded at:
http://www.hagihon.co.il/
sherut.asp?cat=150
Fax the form along with
the recent
water-meter reading
to 02-5651294

Modi'in

(Mei Modi'in

*9099 or

1-700-706-626

www.mei-modiin.co.il

The previous tenant must
first clear their bill by
bringing their old lease
agreement to Customer
Service (Ligad Center
1-700-701-441). Take
a confirmation form and
your lease to the municipality
to transfer the bill to your
name

Netanya

(Mei Netanya)

1-800-202-084

http://www.mei-netanya.co.il

Sign a form declaring that
you are the new tenant.
This form can be obtained
at the Netanya Municipality.

Fax the form along with
the recent water-meter
reading to 09-8859748

Ra'anana
(Municipality

09-761-0464

www.raanana.muni.il

Fax copy of your lease
agreement, Teudat Zehut,
and the recent water-meter

Tel Aviv
(Municipality)

03-521-8666