Latvian Minister of Economics Ilze Indriksone told LTV programme De Facto that the planned state aid for residents during the heating season is insufficient and that it will be necessary to allocate additional crisis aid.
To support Latvian residents, the Saeima approved the government’s initiative to provide households with aid in the form of compensation of up to 50% of central heating tariff price growth above 68 EUR/MWh. In some areas prices have quadrupled.
The Public Utilities Commission’s website has a map that depicts an updated heating energy supply tariffs –
According to information compiled by De Facto, the current leader is Ikšķiles māja LLC, where heating tariff will reach 324.44 EUR/MWh (without VAT) starting with 21 September as opposed to the current 56.06 EUR/MWh.
Photo: Screenshot from LTV programme De FactoHeating energy tariff of Ķekavas nami LLC changed for the second time this year – on 1 August the heating tariff increased 4.6 times – from 39.64 EUR/MWh to 181.14 EUR/MWh. However, as of 1 September the tariff is 279.52 EUR/MWh (without VAT).
The heating tariff of Mārupes komunālie pakalpojumi JSC reached 320.14 EUR/MWh (without VAT) on 1 September as opposed to the current 127.29 EUR/MWh.
Assuming the state will compensate 50% of the central heating tariff increase above 68 EUR/MWh from 1 October onward, after receiving this aid
the tariff for clients of Ikšķiles māja LLC will be 196 EUR/MWh (without VAT).
Commenting on whether the aid provided by the state to residents is sufficient, the minister admitted it is not.
«It will be necessary to adopt some form of crisis support for households that live in territories that have only gas heating and where tariffs are disproportionate,» the minister told De Facto.
She stressed this could help the families that do not qualify for the status of poor or low-income family but which will nevertheless enter a crisis this heating season.
The Ministry of Economics is doubtful about the idea of setting a tariff cap over which costs are fully compensated by the state, as this would not motivate heating austerity. However, the ministry says this topic is planned to be discussed again.