After receiving bills for January, many Latvians were shocked. In this regard, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Energy Law, which provide for the establishment of a price ceiling on thermal energy.
"How to Live, Dear Editor?"
A wave of indignation has swept through social media: people are citing specific amounts for heating in their bills, comparing them to December's and expressing their concerns. For instance, some residents of Riga in Kengarags (which, as is known, is not the wealthiest district of the capital) have to pay around 300 euros for utilities in small one-room apartments and "two-room" flats.
It is clear that a total bill of 300 euros for a small two-room apartment in a series project can put a lonely pensioner, receiving a small pension, in a position to choose between paying for the apartment and switching to bread and water or trying to apply for benefits.
For reference: more than 10% of pensioners in Latvia receive a pension of up to 300 euros, and over 20% receive between 300-500 euros. The same choice may confront other socially vulnerable residents of Latvia.
Will There Be Help?
In Latvia, there is a special housing benefit that is paid to those who are particularly struggling. One must apply for it at the municipality where they are registered.
The amount of the benefit is influenced by coefficients assigned to certain social groups. For example, a lonely pensioner or a lonely disabled person is assigned a coefficient of 2.1. A family consisting only of pensioners or disabled individuals has a coefficient of 1.7. For other households, the coefficient is 1.3.
Opposition parties in the Saeima proposed to reduce the value-added tax (VAT) rate on thermal energy and wood fuel from 12% to 5% as a support measure from January 1 to April 30. This would lower the total amount in the bills. However, this proposal did not receive support from the ruling majority in the Saeima.
Garbage Collectors Will Not Charge Late Fees
One of the largest waste collection companies in Riga announced that it will not apply late payment fees to its clients and will not suspend waste collection services.
The decision is effective from February 1 until the end of the heating season in 2026, and CleanR has already informed the relevant municipalities where the company provides services.
"We understand that this year, for some residents, the heating season means a significant increase in expenses, which may affect clients' ability to pay their utility bills on time. During this period, we want to support residents in the municipalities where we operate and reduce their financial burden by not applying fees for new overdue payments," the company commented.
Previously, Riga's municipal utility providers – Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks, Rīgas siltums, Rīgas ūdens – had already stated that due to the cold winter, they would not apply penalties (late fees) for overdue bill payments.
"Ceiling" on Heating Prices Only in Autumn
On February 12, the Saeima of Latvia adopted amendments to the Energy Law in the final reading, which provide for the establishment of a price ceiling on thermal energy.
The amendments stipulate the establishment of a maximum price at which the system operator can purchase produced heat. Specifically, the proposed price must not exceed the maximum level set by the Utilities Commission (Regulator).
However, these restrictions will only take effect in the next heating season.
In Riga, the price ceiling will apply from October 1, 2026. (In the capital, the amount of thermal energy supplied to consumers exceeds 2 million megawatt-hours per year).
By the end of this June, the regulator must determine the maximum purchase price for thermal energy in Riga.
For other thermal supply system operators, these will come into effect on October 1, 2028.
Will It Get Easier?
The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia (MoF) has voiced a forecast regarding heating and electricity tariffs in Latvia for the foreseeable future: it is far from rosy.
The MoF does not rule out that rising energy resource prices in Europe may lead to increased tariffs for heating and electricity.
Moreover, risks remain that could sustain higher inflation even in the second half of 2026. These are related to rising energy resource prices at the beginning of this year, influenced by a harsh winter and high levels of gas and electricity consumption in Europe.
Currently, the rise in energy resource prices has not significantly impacted electricity, gas, or thermal energy tariffs in Latvia. However, if unfavorable weather conditions in Europe keep energy resource consumption high in February and March, this may maintain high gas and electricity prices until the start of filling gas storage for the next heating season.
Problems with Bills Among the Elderly Have Increased
According to the latest data (1,004 respondents aged 18 to 74 were surveyed):
• The share of residents who find it particularly difficult to cover monthly expenses during the cold months of the year has increased. If in 2024, 15% faced such a problem, by the end of last year, it was already 23%;
• This period becomes especially challenging for residents over 50 years old – it is during winter that they most often encounter difficulties in paying monthly bills.
It should be added that this survey was conducted in November 2025. That is, even before the "draconian" bills of this winter.
"We Live Beautifully!"
An excerpt from the discussion of heating bills on social media Facebook:
• The price for heating in a 61.3 m2 apartment - 170 euros. That comes to 2.49 euros per unit. In December, the price per unit was 1.46 euros.
• In a 48 m2 apartment - 261 EUR. Additionally, we turn on the heater and bundle up.
• A 12-story building, Czech project - 33 m2. The bill is 268.30, for heating - 3.84 per unit.
• A two-room apartment in an old Lithuanian building, 2 people - 300 euros!
• 38 m2, gas heating - 129 euros just for heating. Plus, we add briquettes. Total - 230 euros. The apartment is +20 degrees.
• Three-room - 430 euros!
• In Vecmilgravis with 56 m2 - 320 euros! Incredible, we live beautifully!
• Apartment 44 m2, heating - 144 euros. And there’s also a new line for 5 euros for snow. Total bill - 270 euros.
• We have 61 m2, the bill came to 409 euros, my eyes popped out! Heating - 188 euros.
• My mom's heating is +85%, mine is +82.5%.
• Here, we should not compare bills, but ask the Riga City Council, and ourselves: why in Pärnu, 2.5 hours away from the capital, 90% of apartment buildings are insulated (less heat loss), while in Riga - unfortunately.
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