Riga, Jan 28 (LETA) - Housing allowance is currently considered the most realistic solution to support the population under rising heating costs, Economics Minister Viktors Valainis (Greens/Farmers) told LETA, commenting on his suggestion to convene an emergency meeting of the National Energy Crisis Centre.

Valainis stressed that there is ongoing active work on the situation - four official meetings have been held in different formats between ministries and the Latvian Association of Local Governments, and local governments are currently paying more attention to the issue. Data collection is underway, and by the end of this week a large number of municipalities will submit information on the situation in their territories.

The minister explained that the existing state support mechanisms provide for a response in cases of rising tariffs, but in the current situation the problem is related to the increase in consumption, which is not supported by the legal framework.

On the basis of the data received, it is planned to start preparing draft decisions as early as this week, which, depending on the situation, will be submitted to a crisis management meeting or a meeting of the responsible ministries, with a view to submitting an informative report to the government. The most realistic solution is currently considered to be a housing allowance provided by the municipality, with the state participating in the provision of the allowance. The benefit is not only for the poor, but also for the wider population, the minister said.

At the same time, Valainis said that municipalities currently do not have the resources to cover the support within the existing budgetary framework. He also said that the support should be targeted, not general, so that the people who need it the most, as well as entrepreneurs, receive it.

Asked whether the plans would not remain at the level of promises and how citizens could be sure that the proposals would be implemented, Valainis said that the support is currently planned for both January and February, and that the ministry will, for its part, forward the necessary decisions to the government for consideration.

Valainis mentioned that he has not heard any arguments to the contrary in the government. Targeted support in such situations is the responsibility of the government, and the support is intended for the citizens and businesses that need it most.

The Economics Ministry said that it has requested information and solutions from the responsible authorities so that when the full data for January are available, solutions will already be in place to help people this winter season. The meeting is likely to take place next week.

The Economics Ministry is working with the Climate and Energy Ministry and the Welfare Ministry to coordinate the situation.

As reported, in view of this winter's low temperatures and the fact that heating costs for households will increase significantly, Valainis is calling for an emergency meeting of the National Energy Crisis Centre to be convened immediately in order to find effective solutions to support the population.

Asked what Greens/Farmers would propose to do to help the population, Harijs Rokpelnis, head of the Greens/Farmers Saeima faction, told LETA that it is good that ministers have reacted to the situation and are ready to find solutions.

"We expect the ministers to prepare a clear position. We will support the approval of these measures in the government and in the parliament," Rokpelnis said.

Meanwhile, Riga Deputy Mayor Edvards Ratnieks (National Alliance), taking into account the cold January, is urging municipal utility companies not to apply late payment fees to residents for delayed payment of heating bills for this month. Residents will receive their bills for January, but would be able to pay them in installments until the start of the next heating season, without late payment fees, according to the office of the deputy mayor.

"Considering that this January is one of the coldest months in recent years, I have discussed with Riga City Council Executive Director Janis Lange the possibility of municipal companies not applying penalties for January heating bills, but to allow residents to pay the unpaid amount by the start of the next heating season," explains the politician.

This is a way for the municipality to support its residents in a situation where consumption for home heating is increasing.

Given the financial situation of local governments, Ratnieks calls on the state to take active measures and find opportunities to implement similar state support mechanisms as during Covid-19 and the first year of the war in Ukraine, when the state partially compensated residents for their heating bills.