Latvia: Low-income families to be compensated for energy price spikes

The Latvian government has decided to pay compensation to low-income households for rapid rises in energy prices, LSM reports. The permanent support mechanism will apply to exceptional price increases for electricity, heating, and biomass fuels. Households with per capita income of up to EUR 473 per month and housing expenditure of at least 30% of monthly income per household member will be eligible for the support. The support will be provided by electricity and natural gas traders, heating system operators, and municipalities, which the state will then reimburse. The Ministry of Energy will begin monitoring energy prices in October 2024.