Obligations for large electricity consumers and large companies

Responsibilities of large companies

  • Within a year after inclusion in the list of large companies, conduct an energy audit, which must cover at least 90% of the company's total final energy consumption. The regular energy audit should be performed every four years.
  • Implement all or at least three of the energy efficiency improvement measures indicated in the first or current energy audit report with the highest estimated energy savings or economic return.
  • If the company has implemented and certified an energy management system ISO 50001 or an environmental management system ISO 14001 in which a continuous energy consumption evaluation process is ensured, covering at least 90% of the company's total final energy consumption, then the large company does not need to perform a regular energy audit.
  • In accordance with the Cabinet Regulation No. 660 "Regulations Regarding the Energy Efficiency Monitoring" to report to the State Construction Control Bureau about the performed energy audit, the measures taken and the achieved energy savings.

Obligations of large electricity consumers

  • Within a year after being included in the list of large electricity consumers, implement and maintain a certified energy management system according to the ISO 50001 standard, covering at least 90% of the company's total final energy consumption, or conduct an energy audit.
  • Implement all or at least three of the energy efficiency improvement measures specified in the energy management system or the supplemented environmental management system with the highest estimated energy savings or economic return.
  • In accordance with the Cabinet Regulation No. 660, report to State Construction Control Bureau on the implemented energy management system, measures taken and energy savings achieved.
  • If the large electricity consumer transfers electricity to sub-users, the large electricity consumer can submit an electricity consumption balance approved by SCCB. It indicates the distribution of electricity consumption – the amount of purchased electricity, the amount of electricity transferred and the name of the companies. The balance is confirmed by the company's energy auditor or an independent expert in the field of building energy efficiency.
  • The list of energy auditors of companies is available on the website of the Latvian National Accreditation Bureau in the section “Accredited Institutions” and on the website of the Construction Information System in the section “Registries”.

The existence of a certified energy management system is a favourable criterion that is taken into account when evaluating project applications of large electricity consumers, if the project is planned to attract such types of support as payment from the state or local government budget, state or local government guarantees, subsidising loan interest rates, as well as other financial assistance from the state, local government, European Union budget and foreign financial aid funds.

If the large electricity consumer does not fulfil the aforementioned requirements, according to Cabinet Regulation No. 202 (11 April 2017) it has to pay an energy efficiency fee, the rate of which is 7% of the cost of electricity consumed in the previous year.

Other questions and answers