State should continue to support socially vulnerable groups by compensating part of their electricity bills - Indriksone

RIGA - The state should continue to support socially vulnerable groups by compensating part of their electricity bills, Economics Minister Ilze Indriksone (National Alliance) said in an interview with Latvian Television on Thursday.

The minister believes that the current state support system, which is to be discontinued after December 31, should continue.

"I would certainly advise the Climate and Energy Ministry and also the Welfare Ministry to assess the possibility of extending this state support program," said Indriksone, adding that support could also be increased for certain categories of the population.

Electricity tariffs have to be in line with the market situation and actual costs, and it is the Public Utilities Commission's job to ensure that this is so.

"Tariffs can certainly be revised, and this should be done on a regular basis," said the minister.