Electricity tariffs in Latvia: from the market chart to your bill
Information checked:
In this guide
The cheapest period on a market chart is a useful starting point, but your contract determines whether using electricity then costs you less. Before changing your routine or supplier, check how your energy price is calculated, which charges are added, and when you actually use electricity.
Does the chart match your contract?
With a dynamic tariff, the energy component follows the exchange according to your contract. With a single-rate fixed tariff, it stays fixed for the agreed period: a cheaper exchange interval does not itself reduce your contracted rate. Latvia's regulator explains that customers and suppliers agree either fixed or exchange-linked prices. SPRK: electricity prices.
A time-of-use tariff is different again. It can have predetermined cheaper hours instead of following tomorrow's exchange prices. Ignitis, for example, advertises products with two fixed rates for different parts of the day. Use your contract's timetable—not the chart's green bars—to identify the cheaper rate. Ignitis household products.
Sadales tīkls now provides actual 15-minute consumption data. Where readings are unavailable, estimates or standard profiles can be involved; a temporary portal gap does not necessarily mean readings are permanently lost. Check your contract's settlement method if the billed result surprises you. Sadales tīkls: metering and data.
Why your average can differ from ours
The market average describes prices over time. Your energy cost also depends on how much you consume at each price.
Imagine two equal-length periods priced at €0.04 and €0.16/kWh. Their market average is €0.10/kWh. If you use 1 kWh in the cheaper period and 3 kWh in the expensive one, the exchange-energy cost is €0.52 for 4 kWh: €0.13/kWh, before additions. Reverse that consumption pattern and the weighted price becomes €0.07/kWh.
These are invented numbers illustrating the calculation, not historical prices or a supplier offer. Look at your consumption profile as well as the chart. A cheap period is of limited help if little consumption can move into it.
What to check in supplier offers
These examples are not a ranking or a complete supplier list. Existing contracts and individual offers can differ from advertised products.
| Supplier/product | Verified information | Check before signing |
|---|---|---|
| Elektrum — dynamic product | Calculator prices for new customers can differ from existing contracts. | Your dated offer's markup, monthly fee, balancing costs and exit conditions. Elektrum |
| Enefit — dynamic product | Its general terms provide for standard-profile settlement where remotely read data is absent. | Product-specific fees and additions; do not use a fixed-price campaign's fees for a dynamic contract. Enefit terms, section 3.3 |
| Ignitis — Aktīvais | The checked page advertises an exchange-linked rate, €0.00970/kWh service fee and €2 monthly fee, including VAT, without an early termination fee. | Effective date, complete formula and additional charges in your offer. Ignitis |
Advertised figures were checked on 10 September 2026; they are not guaranteed for future contracts. Ask whether balancing costs are already included or charged separately. AST publishes balancing-capacity maintenance prices, but your contract determines their household treatment. Do not count the same cost twice. AST prices.
A worked bill example
Assume 200 kWh/month, a consumption-weighted exchange price of €0.08/kWh, €0.01/kWh for all supplier per-kWh additions combined, and a €2 supplier monthly fee. These energy and supplier figures are hypothetical and exclude VAT.
For delivery, use the published 2026 Sadales tīkls Pamata-1, single-phase 16 A rates: €5.44/month and €0.03962/kWh before VAT. Other connections or plans give different results. Sadales tīkls tariffs.
| Component | Calculation | Before VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange energy | 200 × €0.08 | €16.00 |
| Assumed supplier additions | 200 × €0.01 | €2.00 |
| Assumed supplier monthly fee | Fixed | €2.00 |
| Network delivery | 200 × €0.03962 | €7.924 |
| Network capacity fee | Fixed | €5.44 |
| Subtotal | €33.364 | |
| VAT, 21% | €33.364 × 0.21 | €7.00644 |
| Illustrative total, rounded | €40.37 |
Latvia's standard VAT rate is 21%. State Revenue Service. This example assumes no additional services, credits or support. Actual invoice rounding can differ. It is not a supplier quote.
An 8-cent exchange average becomes about 20.19 cents per kWh when the whole illustrative bill is divided by consumption. Moving one kWh does not save 20.19 cents: fixed monthly charges remain.
Does a negative price mean free electricity?
Not necessarily. Under the same illustrative assumptions, a −€0.02/kWh exchange price gives:
−0.02 + 0.01 + 0.03962 = €0.02962/kWh before VAT
The result is positive, even before fixed charges. This assumes the contract passes through the negative exchange price without a floor: confirm that condition. Solar exports need their own contract calculation; the price for buying electricity is not automatically the price paid for exporting it.
Before changing supplier
- Use your own consumption. Compare a representative year, not only a cheap summer month. Monthly fees matter particularly for low consumption.
- Check the network plan separately. Compare Sadales tīkls' Pamata and Speciālais plans for your connection in its official tariff calculator.
- Read the exit conditions. The normal switching process shows the ninth as the deadline for concluding and notifying a switch. Confirm the start date and any existing-contract exit charge with the suppliers. Sadales tīkls switching process.
- Check support eligibility. Protected-user support may change what you pay. BVKB guidance.
Use the daily chart for genuinely flexible consumption, and historical analysis to understand past patterns—not to promise tomorrow's cheapest period. Keep comfort, appliance instructions and safe operation ahead of small price differences.
Sources and currency of information
The linked regulator, network-operator, tax-authority and supplier pages were checked on 10 September 2026. Product examples are selective; no market-wide ranking is made. Recheck the linked sources and your contract before making a decision.