On Thursday, the majority of parliamentarians supported the initiative of the "United List" and other opposition deputies to create a parliamentary commission to investigate the reasons for the increase in centralized heating supply in Riga and the associated risks to energy security.
It is expected that the investigative commission will operate for six months.
The initiative to create the commission was signed by 37 opposition deputies and coalition deputy from the Union of Greens and Farmers, Juris Jakovins. Later, Jakovins withdrew his signature.
All 92 deputies present voted for the creation of the commission.
The Presidium of the Saeima and the council of factions decided today that parliamentary factions can nominate their candidates for the commission investigating the reasons for the increase in centralized heating supply and risks to energy security in Riga until November 14.
Deputies noted possible problems in the operation of the thermal power plant of JSC "Latvenergo" and the management of JSC "Rīgas siltums", emphasizing that investments in these structures did not provide the expected efficiency and long-term results.
One of the main criticisms concerns the release of heat energy into the atmosphere by the thermal power plant instead of its use in centralized heating, while more expensive heat energy is purchased from private companies. The initiators of the commission believe that this leads to unnecessary expenses and double pollution of the environment, as well as violating national and European standards. Deputies express concern over ineffective actions, possible misappropriation of public funds, and weak management in the energy sector.
The decision to create the commission stipulates that within six months it will assess the effectiveness of heat energy purchases, the use of residual heat, environmental impact, the justification of state support, management quality, as well as the procedures for selecting board members and the council of JSC "Rīgas siltums" and JSC "Latvenergo".
The commission will need to determine whether there are systematic shortcomings contributing to price increases and threatening energy security in the future, according to the resolution establishing the parliamentary investigative commission.
As reported, this summer, the plans of "Rīgas siltums" for a planned increase in heating tariffs in the fall were criticized.
To ensure a transparent and economically justified price for heat energy for the residents of Riga, the parliamentary faction of "New Unity" has prepared a draft amendment to the energy law, providing for the introduction of a regulated tariff for independent heat energy producers in Riga.
The new regulation will establish that an independent heat energy producer selling more than 2 million megawatt-hours of heat energy to a major heating system operator, such as JSC "Rīgas siltums", will not have to sell it at a price exceeding the tariff set by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
