Latvia approves compensation for power outages exceeding 72 hours

Latvia’s government on Tuesday approved compensation for households and businesses that lost electricity for more than 72 hours during the August 22–23 storm, LSM reported, citing the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

Customers connected to Sadales tīkls will not be charged the fixed portion of the electricity distribution service fee for the month in which their supply was interrupted for more than three days.

Customers will not need to apply for the compensation. Sadales tīkls will automatically identify those who were without electricity for more than 72 hours. The compensation will apply to the September billing period and appear on invoices issued at the beginning of October.

The same principle will apply to future prolonged outages caused by severe weather when at least a yellow warning has been issued in the affected region or across Latvia. Previously, compensation for outages lasting more than 24 hours did not apply when a weather warning was in force. Under the new rules, compensation will be available in such cases if the outage lasts longer than 72 hours.

The compensation will not be financed from state or municipal budgets.

The storm that hit Latvia during the night of August 23 was described as the strongest summer storm since at least 1966, when comprehensive observations of wind gusts in Latvia began. Around 277,000 households had disrupted electricity supplies on the morning of August 23, and some parts of the country remained without power for several days. One person died when a new building collapsed in Jelgava, several people were injured by falling trees and branches, and two firefighters were injured during rescue work.