Riga heating tariff hike trimmed, but a colder winter could change the picture
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Riga's heating tariff this winter could be 96.63 euros per megawatt-hour instead of the forecast 130 euros. The calculation assumes a milder winter, so colder weather could push the tariff up.
The expected rise in Riga's district heating tariff has been reduced: instead of the roughly 130 euros per megawatt-hour previously forecast, the tariff could be 96.63 euros. Politicians told journalists this on 29 October after a Latvian cabinet meeting on energy issues. The tariff matters to everyone connected to Riga's heating network, since it determines their bills during the heating season.
How the increase was cut
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List) said that the heat supplier AS Rīgas siltums had forecast a 30% rise and built every possible risk into its calculations. According to the premier, the company's board is obliged to do so. The state has now taken on part of that risk. Riga City Council, Rīgas siltums, the responsible ministries and the energy company AS Latvenergo all worked together on the solution. Kulbergs said it would be the lowest tariff in the Baltics.
What could change
The estimates assume a milder winter. If the average temperature is plus 1.5 degrees, the tariff could be kept at this level in December, January and February. In a colder winter, additional boilers would have to be run and gas consumption would rise; this risk is not included in the calculation. The state will monitor gas consumption monthly so that it can "adjust something" if needed.
Climate and Energy Minister Jānis Vitenbergs (National Alliance) said the gas was bought at a price well below the current exchange price, and that the volume is enough to get through the winter reasonably until March. He also noted that the price of wood chips is starting to fall, so in municipalities that do not rely only on gas, any increase would be smaller.
Ownership question
The meeting also discussed the ownership of Rīgas siltums. Riga City Council holds 49% of the company's capital, the Latvian state 48.99%, SIA Enerģijas risinājumi. RIX 2%, and Latvenergo 0.005%. Two possible governance models were presented: a public-private partnership, or transferring majority shares to Riga's municipality. Their impact on tariffs was not assessed. Kulbergs promised a political decision in January to ask Riga City Council to prepare a final evaluation.
Company results
In the last financial year, from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025, the Rīgas siltums group had turnover of 239.625 million euros, 3.6% less than a year earlier. Group profit rose many times over to 19.888 million euros. The parent company's profit grew 61.4% to 6.373 million euros.
