RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO), the largest electricity distribution company in the West Bank, is in an ever-increasing crisis due to the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) cut-off of its concession areas — which it supplies with electricity, namely Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jericho — due to accumulated debts, with the first phase of the cut-off ending on Oct. 24.

On Oct. 16, JDECO received the first warning for the second phase of power cuts from IEC, during which it will cut off three to four lines (areas) for over two hours a day, depriving some 40,000 Palestinians of electricity for that period of time.

The first phase of power cuts began Sept. 22 and ended Oct. 24. It included JDECO’s concession areas in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Jericho, according to a timetable per area set by the IEC.

On Oct. 20, JDECO’s employees organized sit-ins in front of the company's offices in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jericho against the Israeli collective punishment policy to cut electricity, in addition to new rationing and power-cut warnings in cities, towns and villages located within the company's concession areas.