According to Ynet, Minister of National Infrastructure Uzi Landau (Yisrael Beiteinu) has proposed a new bill that would alter the way the Israel Electric Company works. The proposed bill would force the electric company to operate the power stations according to halachic requirements, and it would give the Rabbanut the ability to cut power if it felt such a move is necessary for halachic reasons.

The new bill has enraged many consumers - it is expected to cause a sharp increase in already high electricity rates, as new systems need to be installed, supervisors will need to be paid, and at the end of the day it is the consumer who will have to foot the new expense, estimated to be at hundreds of millions of shekels.

I am not quite sure why Uzi Landau would make such a proposal, considering he isn't a member of a religious party nor is he one commonly involved in religious legislation.  What issue is he trying to solve by proposing this? Is it the only way the electric company can fight against the generators that are found in haredi communities around Israel (a while back there was a report that the IEC was workign to make kosher electricity so that there would be no need for the generators)?

Of course I expect that if this actually happens, many will still not rely on the Rabbanut's supervision. We will end up with 4 or 5 different hechshers and committees for kosher electricity.