Rīgas siltums promises to keep heating tariff rise within 30% and cut gas dependence
Rīgas siltums, the company behind Riga's district heating, told a committee meeting that the heating tariff increase will not exceed 20–30%. The meeting followed a State Audit Office review of heating costs.
Rīgas siltums, the district heating supplier in Latvia's capital that is owned partly by the Riga city council and partly by the state, told a committee meeting that the rise in Riga's heating tariff is expected to stay within 20–30%, even though current energy price trends could make an increase necessary. The meeting was convened in connection with the State Audit Office's findings on the costs of Riga's district heating and the options for setting an economically justified tariff.
How the tariff is shaped
In its presentation, the company said higher energy prices reach the tariff through two channels. Rīgas siltums produces about 31% of the heat itself and buys the remaining 69% from external suppliers. The tariff is therefore affected both by its own fuel costs and by the price of purchased heat.
The company says it has softened the impact of price increases through timely natural gas purchases, the use of biofuel and more flexible operation on the heat market.
Future plans and state of the system
To gradually reduce its dependence on natural gas and limit the effect of price swings on customers in the future, the company plans to keep investing in biomass, electrification and heat storage projects.
The district heating system includes 847 kilometres of heating networks and 44 heat sources, with a total installed capacity of almost 795 megawatts. Hydraulic tests were carried out ahead of the heating season, several network sections were rebuilt or renewed and building substations were prepared. At the end of September, readiness at substations exceeded 94%.
Financial results
The Rīgas siltums group's turnover in the financial year from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025 was EUR 239.625 million, 3.6% lower than a year earlier. Group profit rose several times over to EUR 19.888 million. The parent company's turnover was EUR 239.618 million, while its profit grew by 61.4% to EUR 6.373 million. The group also includes SIA Rīgas BioEnerģija.
The company's shares are split as follows: 49% belong to Riga City Council, 48.99% to the Latvian state, 2% to SIA Enerģijas risinājumi. RIX and 0.005% to Latvenergo.
