An air filter system (10) has a filter housing (11), an air filter media (12), and an electrical circuit (13) electrically coupled to the media. The filter media consists of a pleated air filter material (23) with front pleat apexes (25) and rear pleat apexes (26) which are coated with an electrically conductive material to form front vertical strips (27) and rear strips (28). The electrical circuit includes a positive front electrical contact (30) and a rear electrical contact (31). The front electrical contact has a rear surface (30′) in electrical contact with an elongated front electrical contact bar (33), oriented horizontally across and in electrical contact with the filter front strips of conductive ink. Similarly, the rear electrical contact has a front surface (31′) in electrical contact with an elongated rear electrical contact bar (34), oriented horizontally across and in electrical contact with the rear strips of conductive ink.