Government might put price caps on first 100 kilowatt hours - PM Karins

  • 2022-09-19
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - To compensate consumers for the rapidly rising electricity prices, the government might put caps on the first 100 kilowatt hours (kWh), Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) said at a congress of the Unity party on Saturday. 

In addition to the already approved energy support to residents, the government next week will decide on draft proposals to set price ceilings for central heating, natural gas and electricity, the prime minister said. 

Karins noted that the government has already approved an energy support package for households and businesses worth EUR 650 million, but the energy prices continue to rise.

"The range of heating rates in Latvia is extremely wide - from EUR 50 per megawatt hour to over EUR 300 per megawatt hour. I have therefore tasked the Ministries of Economy and Finance to work out a system which in addition to the already approved support package, would effectively set a price ceiling for central heating and natural gas," the prime minister said. 

Karins added that the government has a concrete plan how to survive the coming winter, including how to ensure the availability of energy sources, particularly natural gas.