Riga buildings to begin heating next week, with no debt delays

Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks, Riga’s largest apartment-building manager, plans to start connecting heating in its buildings next week, LSM reports. Ten buildings have already received heating at residents’ request, and for the first time no building’s connection will be delayed because of unpaid bills.

The company usually begins the heating season when the weather turns consistently cool: for at least three days, the outdoor temperature must not rise above 14 degrees Celsius and must fall to 8 degrees at some point. Current forecasts indicate that these conditions will be met on Monday, October 12. Heating is expected to be connected to all buildings gradually over three days.

All heating substations in buildings managed by RNP are technically ready. Apartment owners can also vote collectively to choose a different start date for their building. Residents of energy-efficient renovated buildings can adjust the heating individually in each apartment.

RNP said that unpaid bills will not prevent heating from being connected to any of its buildings this year. About 84% of its customers pay their bills on time each month, while the annual payment rate is 99%. Rīgas Siltums, the heat supplier, may decide not to connect heating if residents of a building have paid less than 80% of the total bills over the previous year.