Heating tariffs could increase two or more times on average during next heating season - association

RIGA - In the next heating season, heat energy tariffs could increase on average two or even more times, Valdis Vitolins, a member of the board of the Latvian Association of Heating Companies, told LETA.

At the same time, he explains that it will depend on different heat service providers. Cheaper tariffs will be in those municipalities where alternative energy resources from natural gas, such as wood chips, are used more for heat production. For municipalities that use only one of the two resources - natural gas or alternatives - the balance between natural gas and other fuels chosen by the heat company will be important.

"The main question is - what will be the price of natural gas. The simplest assumption is that the price of natural gas will be the one at the time in which which it was pumped into the Incukalns natural gas storage, but at the moment we can only guess," Vitolins pointed out.

Vitolins predicts that if the heat energy tariff in a certain municipality reaches, for example, 150 euros per MWh, then in January the heating bill for a one-room apartment in a new building could reach from 200 to 250 euros, which may fluctuate depending on the outdoor temperature.

Tariffs for heat supply services to regulated merchants in accordance with economically justified costs are approved by the regulator - the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

The Latvian Association of Heating Companies is a public professional organization, which unites district heating companies, manufacturers and suppliers of heating equipment and supplies, as well as separate individual members - energy experts.