RIGA, Feb 11 (LETA) - In January 2026, consumption of thermal energy in Riga increased by 60 percent from December 2025 to 637,000 megawatt-hours (MWh), as air temperatures plunged, causing an unusually severe and prolonged cold spell, Rigas Siltums municipal heating utility informed LETA.

In December, Riga consumed 399,200 MWh of thermal energy.

Analysis of heat consumption by 5,216 residential buildings this past January shows that 56 percent of the residential buildings connected to district heating in Riga saw a 40 percent to 60 percent increase in heat consumption in January compared to December.

Almost 38 percent of the buildings saw a 60 percent to 80 percent increase in heat consumption, while 4 percent saw an increase of more than 80 percent.

An increase of less than 40 percent was recorded for just 2 percent of the buildings. This shows the correlation between air temperature and the technical condition of buildings, the company explained.

The average outdoor air temperature in December 2025 was 2.8 degrees Celsius, while in January, air temperatures averaged -7.8 degrees.

According to Rigas Siltums, January 2026 was the month with the lowest average outdoor air temperature in the last 15 years. The first decade of February was also cold.

The company estimates that a one-degree drop in outdoor air temperature leads to a 5 to 8 percent increase in heat consumption.

Heat consumption is affected not only by the weather, but also by the energy efficiency of the building. Improving it can reduce heating costs by up to 60 percent.

In the last financial year, which ran from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, Rigas Siltums had a turnover of EUR 239.625 million, down 3.6 percent on the previous year, while the group's profit grew multifold to EUR 19.888 million. Parent company Rigas Siltums' turnover in the last financial year was EUR 239.618 million, down 3.6 percent, while its profit rose 61.4 percent to EUR 6.373 million.

Rigas Siltums is one of the main suppliers of heating energy in Riga. The company's capital is 49 percent owned by Riga City Council, 48.99 percent by the Latvian state, 2 percent by Energijas Risinajumi RIX, and Latvenergo holds 0.005 percent of the shares.

As reported, in order to provide support to residents who may have difficulties paying of utility bills during the cold period of the year due to increased energy consumption, municipal companies Rigas Nami, Rigas Namu Parvaldnieks, Rigas Siltums and Rigas Udens have decided not to impose penalties and late payment interest on utility bills.