In Estonia, there have been cases when residents received calls from scammers speaking Russian and pretending to be representatives of power companies, Latvian Ministry of Climate and Energy warns with reference to information from Estonian colleagues.
During these phone calls, residents are told that because of the upcoming synchronisation of power grids on 8th – 9th of February, it is necessary for them to replace the electricity meter in their homes. The caller then asks them to log into their internet bank using Smart-ID to gain access to their personal data.
The ministry urges Latvian residents to report such calls to their mobile phone network provider and State Police.
“Do not do what they ask! Do not provide personal data! Do not perform authentication using Smart-ID if they request it!” the ministry warns.
“The synchronisation process has nothing to do with the electricity meters in homes, their replacement, or with other technical operations related to the electricity connection to households. Synchronisation is a significant event, which involves careful, systematic preparation on several levels – physical infrastructure readiness, development of IT systems for transmission operators, regional cooperation and coordinated action of stakeholders on the national level. The same technical synchronisation process is in the works by the three Baltic electricity transmission system operators – Latvian (AS “Augstsprieguma tīkls”), Estonian and Lithuanian together with the Polish system operator from the side of the European single network,” explains Minister if Climate and Energy Kaspars Melnis.
In difficult geopolitical conditions, the public’s vulnerability is higher. The presence of misleading information in the public space is more tangible before the upcoming synchronisation, which will take place on the 8th – 9th February. Therefore, the ministry in particular invites the public to critically evaluate the information and avoid emotionally charged statements, as well as avoid sharing unverified information.
Electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) of the Continental European synchronous area have decided on a two-day isolated operation test of the Baltic States’ energy systems from the 8th to the 9th of February 2025 with subsequent synchronisation with continental Europe.
Latvian transmission system operator “Augstsprieguma tīkls”, Estonian “Elering” and Lithuanian “Litgrid” plan to join the continental Europe synchronous area on the 9th of February, 2025.