Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

Environment and Energy Statistics Section, Agricultural and Environmental Statistics Department

Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, Lāčplēša iela 1, Rīga, LV-1301

European statistics on natural gas prices for household and final non-household customers.

Internal Eurostat classification system based on annual natural gas consumption bands and tax levels.

Household sector and final non-household sector (industry, services, offices, agriculture, etc).

The prices are collected in national currencies per GJ and according to different bands of consumption.

For the households sector, these bands are:

• D1: Customers consuming less than 20 GJ.
• D2: Customers consuming 20 GJ or more but less than 200 GJ.
• D3: Customers consuming 200 GJ or more.

For the final non-households sector, the bands are:

• I1: Customers consuming less than 1000 GJ.
• I2: Customers consuming 1000 GJ or more but less than 10000 GJ.
• I3: Customers consuming 10000 GJ or more but less than 100000 GJ.
• I4: Customers consuming 100000 GJ or more but less than 1000000 GJ.
• I5: Customers consuming 1000000 GJ or more but less than 4000000 GJ.
• I6: Customers consuming 4000000 GJ or more.

There exist 2 different levels of disagregation for semestrial and annual prices:

1- Semestrial prices:

These prices are reported twice a year and are divided in 3 levels:

• Level 1 prices: Prices excluding taxes and levies.
• Level 2 prices: Prices excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes and levies.
• Level 3 prices: Prices including all taxes and levies.

2- Annual prices:

These prices are reported once a year together with the data for the second semester and are divided into the following components and taxes:

• Energy and supply: commodity price for natural gas paid by the supplier or the price of natural gas at the point of entry into the transmission system, including, if applicable, the following end-user costs: storage costs plus costs relating to the sale of natural gas to final customers.
• Network cost: transmission and distribution tariffs, transmission and distribution losses, network costs, after-sale service costs, system service costs and meter rental and metering costs.
• Value added taxes (VAT): as defined in Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
• Renewable taxes: taxes, fees, levies or charges relating to the promotion of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and CHP generation.
• Capacity taxes: taxes, fees, levies or charges relating to strategic stockpiles, capacity payments and energy security; taxes on natural gas distribution; stranded costs and levies on financing energy regulatory authorities or market and system operators.
• Environmental taxes: taxes, fees, levies or charges relating to air quality and for other environmental purposes; taxes on emissions of CO₂ or other greenhouse gases. This component includes the excise duties.
• All other taxes: taxes, fees, levies or charges not covered by any of the previous four categories: support for district heating; local or regional fiscal charges; island compensation; concession fees relating to licences and fees for the occupation of land and public or private property by networks or other devices.

In addition to these elements, the network cost is split into the respective shares of transmission and distribution. The relative share of consumption in the different consumption bands is reported by the countries and used to calculated the single national natural gas prices (weighted averages for consumer bands IA-IF and DA-DE) but not published because it could be used to re-calculate some confidential values.

Some of the taxes are refundable. Here is a description of them:

VAT is fully refundable to non-household consumers and not refundable to household consumers.

The table below shows the taxes reported in "All other taxes".

Household and final non-household consumers divided into consumption bands.

Household customers: data (on 2020) coming from six suppliers out of seven and representing 86 % of the household customers. 

Final non-household customers: data (on 2020) coming from nine suppliers out of ten and representing 90 % of the final non-household customers.

Distribution network prices are received from distribution network operator, representing 100 % of the final household and non-household customers.

Transmission network prices are received from transmission network operator,  representing 100 % of the final household and non-household customers.

Prices are presented at national level and refer to household and non-household customers running their business in Latvia.

Natural gas prices data for Latvia are available since the second semester of 2007.

Not applicable.

Prices are reported in national currency per GJ. Eurostat also calculates and publishes the prices in EURO and PPS (purchasing power parity) and do the conversion to kWh.
Relative shares of sub-component of the network component and consumption volumes are reported in percentages.

Reference period used for the semestrial prices covers the January–June of the semester 1 and July–December of the semester 2.

Reference period used for annual prices covers the is the whole calendar year (January–December).

At EU level:

• Regulation (EU) 2016/1952 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on European statistics on natural gas and electricity prices and repealing Directive 2008/92/EC (Text with EEA relevance).
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2169 of 21 November 2017 concerning the format and arrangements for the transmission of European Statistics on natural gas and electricity prices pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/1952 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance).
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1734 of 14 November 2018 granting derogations to the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the Italian Republic and the Republic of Cyprus as regards the provision of statistics pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/1952 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2018) 7465) (Text with EEA relevance).
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/803 of 17 May 2019 concerning the technical requirements regarding the content of quality reports on European statistics on natural gas and electricity prices pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/1952 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance.) 

At national level:

• Statistics Law (in force since 4 June 2015).
• Regulation of the Council No 644 "Official Statistics Programme for 2020–2022".

At EU level:

• Eurostat does not share the data collected with other organisation appart from its usual dissemination chanel (Eurostat's database, statistic explained articles and press or news release) .

At national level data are sent to:

• Eurostat,
• IEA.

At EU level:

• Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 11 March 2009, on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

At national level:

• Statistics Law (in force since 4 June 2015), Section 17.

Published data should not allow identification of single consumers.

Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) does not disclose the data which by their nature might be subject to commercial confidentiality. Pursuant to the requirements of national legislation, Section 17 of the Statistics Law, Section 5 and 16 of the Freedom of Information Law, Sections 6, 7 and 27 of the Personal Data Protection Law, and in accordance with the item 5 of the CSB Quality Guidelines, CSB provides confidentiality and protection of information given by respondents, as well as individual information received from other sources.

The price statistics release date is published in the Release Calendar showing the dates when results of statistical surveys conducted by the CSB are published. The prices of natural gas delivered to household and final non-household customers are published twice a year – three months after the reporting period.

Official statistics portal: https://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistics/calendar

Natural gas prices payable by household and non-household customers are published on the Official statistics portal (from 2021) under the heading Business sectors – Energy – Gas prices for household consumers and Gas prices for non-household consumers. The statistics is published in accordance with the Statistics Law and the European Statistics Code of Practice, respecting the professional independence and aimed at objectivity, transparency and equal treatment of all consumers. The statistical information published by the CSB is accessible to all data users at the same time and under the same conditions.  

Latvian natural gas prices are published on Eurostat's website, as well as on IEA website and on Official statistics portal on a semestrial basis.

There are no national press release on the data.

Average electricity prices in 2020 are included in the national collection of statistics "Environment of Latvia in Figures: Climate Changes, Natural Resources and Environmental Quality in 2020" (available in English and Latvian). The collection is available on the Official statistics portal in section Publications.

As of 2020, survey results are available to all users on the Official statistics portal in Business sectors – Energy – Gas prices. At national level, the statistics is available for the average price of natural gas supplied through the network to defined groups for household and final non-household customers (according to Regulation (EU) 2016/1952) is available.

Not applicable.

To ensure confidentiality and data protection requirements, CSB does not give access to the microdata.

Currently data are not disseminated in other ways.

One to two consultations for each reference period.

Regulation (EU) 2016/1952, Annex I.

Compilers guide on European statistics on natural gas and electricity (Eurostat, 2017)

Official statistics portal: https://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistics/statistics-by-theme/environment-energy/energy/tables/metadata-natural-gas-prices

Metadata completeness 100%

All quality documentation of Latvian official statistics and CSB is available on the CSB website in the section Documents – National Statistical System of Latvia –Quality assurance framework. The section includes, e.g., Quality Policy of CSB, Statistical Dissemination Policy, Revision Policy, Quality Policy of the National Statistical System of Latvia, Memorandum of Understanding for Implementation of Quality Policy of the NSS of Latvia. Natural gas price statistics is collected based on all the documentation.

On 29 November 2018, CSB gained ISO 9001:2015 standard certificate  “Quality Management Systems – Requirements”. The certification refers to the production of official statistics – planning, data acquisition, processing, analysis, and dissemination. Currently, there is no self-assessment report for natural gas prices.

1.Main quality strengths:

• Data accessibility and clarity has been improved. All users have equal access to data at the same time. Data users can consult the CSB on metadata.
• High confidentiality.
• Natural gas price statistics independent from other political, legislative and executive institutions and bodies, as well as private sector.
• Comparability, coherence and relevance – the dataset provides information on prices and the data are comparable among countries, ( as prices are calculated based on the Regulation (EU) 2016/1952, Annex II).

2.Possible quality deficiencies:

• Timeliness improvements are possible.

3.Planned quality improvements:

• To improve quality (especially accuracy) of the data and e-survey CSB cooperates with the Ministry of Economics and consults industry representatives, respondents, and Public Utilities Commission.

No information available about users of the data, as they have free access to the Official statistics portal.

User satisfaction survey in respect to this dataset has not been conducted.

Data fully meet the requirements (in terms of scope, structure of consumers and price levels) of the Regulation (EU) 2016/1952.

CSB provides complete data. If there are no data in the cell, the magnitude is zero or the numerical value is less than 0.00001.

The ratio of the number of data cells provided to the number of data cells required:

• annual price HOUSEHOLD 100%;
• annual price NON-HOUSEHOLD 100%;
• semi-annual price HOUSEHOLD 100%;
• semi-annual price NON-HOUSEHOLD 100%.

The data are reliable, and accuracy is good. Data verification is made for each supplier. Comparative analysis of the data providers is based on the data on previous periods and  established natural gas prices. Non-response and measurement error are the most common errors of this statistics.

Information on active natural gas traders in Latvia is provided by the Public Utilities Commission, but information on the market share of traders is provided by the distribution network operator. The sample includes natural gas traders with a market share of more than 2%. Although the data collected do not represent 100% of the population, sampling error is considered insignificant due to the high percentage.

No precisions measures are available.

Information is included in the sub-concepts S.13.3.1-S.13.3.5.

As data obtained from the respondents account for 86 % of the household customers and 90 % of the non-household customers, all kinds of households and non-households are represented well enough.

Over-coverage can occur when an natural gas consumer has switched from one trader to another and both traders have provided data on this consumer. It has impact on the total natural gas amount in consumer groups. However, that kind of over-coverage as well as others is estimated to be negligible.  

100 % of the data are covered by the survey.

Main measurement errors occur when respondents divide the total natural gas consumption by consumption band incorrectly or have not specified taxes. To avoid such errors, we provide consultations and descriptions of how consumers can divide total semi-annual natural gas consumption. 

Survey respondents provide all the necessary information, however there are cases when it is not possible to contact respondent (no information is received).

In 2020, seven out of ten data providers included in the scope participated in the surveys, representing 90 % of the household target population and 92 % of non-household target population.

Respondents who participated in the survey provided data on all required items. Non-response rate accounted for 0%.

Respondents enter their data in an automated Integrated Statistical Data Management System (ISDMS) through an e-survey where validation is updated every semester. Validation reduces the possibility of entering incorrect data. After this step, manual data processing begins. Most common processing error is arithmetic error (e.g.,  in formula). In most cases, such errors are noticed and corrected timely.

Not applicable.

Natural gas providers that participate in the national data collection are requested to provide the natural gas price data within two monthsafter the reference period. When the prices are received, CSB employees check the micro-data for correctness, consistency and completeness, and national averages are calculated and reported to Eurostat during the third month after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for households for the 1st semester of 2019 was sent 88 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for households for the 2nd semester of 2019 was sent 92 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for households for the 1st semester of 2020 was sent 91 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for households for the 2nd semester of 2020 was sent 92 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for households for the 1st semester of 2021 was sent 90 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for households for the 2nd semester of 2021 was sent 92 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households for the 1st semester of 2019 was sent 88 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households for the 2nd semester of 2019 was sent 92 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households for the 1st semester of 2020 was sent 91 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households for the 2nd semester of 2020 was sent 92 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households for the 1st semester of 2021 was sent 90 days after the reference period.

The first version of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households for the 2nd semester of 2021 was sent 92 days after the reference period.

Version 2 of the natural gas price questionnaire for households for the 1st semester of 2020 was sent 91 days after the reference period, 0 days after the first version and 0 day(s) after the mandatory deadline.

Version 2 of the natural gas price questionnaire for households for the 2nd semester of 2021 was sent 93 days after the reference period, 1 days after the first version and 0 day(s) after the mandatory deadline.

Version 2 of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households for the 1st semester of 2019 was sent 94 days after the reference period, 6 days after the first version and 7 day(s) after the mandatory deadline.

Version 2 of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households for the 2nd semester of 2019 was sent 93 days after the reference period, 1 days after the first version and 1 day(s) after the mandatory deadline.

The submitted data is constantly reviewed. The chosen calculation methods are evaluated to ensure the most accurate reflection of the current situation. Following the opening of the natural gas market, new suppliers were included in the 1-GC survey. Some suppliers provided data for the first time (for the reference period). Some respondents submit data or corrections after the deadline. The calculations are made on the basis of weighted prices calculated according to the market share of electricity supply companies in each of the consumption groups, the final data being affected by changes in the primary data submitted by any natural gas supplier.

The submitted data are constantly reviewed. The calculation methods chosen are assessed for the best depiction of the existing situation.

The legal deadline for submitting the questionnaires is the third month after the reference period. 

Data are published accurately on the date in the Release Calendar (three months after the reporting period: on the first semester – at the end of September of the current year, and on the second semester – at the end of March of the next year). Data for the first semester of 2019 were sent after the deadline. Some respondents (20%) submitted their data late, so the final data had to be resubmitted.

Natural gas price survey questionnaires for households in the 1st semester of 2020 version 2 and in the 2nd semester of 2021 version 2, as well as Version 2 of the natural gas price questionnaire for non-households in the 1st and 2nd semester of 2019 was sent later, as some respondents submit data or corrections after the deadline.

Data are representative at national level, as required by the methodology used to calculate prices in standard groups of household and final non-household customers (Regulation (EU) 2016/1952, Annex I and II).

Not applicable.

Data in time series are calculated based on the same methodology (Regulation (EU) 2016/1952, Annex I and II) and are comparable. There are no breaks in the series (first period is the second semester of 2007).

29 reference periods - from second semester of 2007 to second semester of 2021.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The annual prices of natural gas are calculated on a semi-annual basis and are fully coherent.

Respondents complete e-survey – the burden is imposed by the time needed to complete the questionnaire. If respondent has indicated that it took more than 2 h to complete the questionnaire, we ask to explain the reasons, however in 65 % of cases it takes less than 2 hours. More time is needed for those respondents who do not collect the required data on daily basis or fill in the questionnaire for the first time. Respondents point out that the main difficulties are related to the requested data breakdown (consumption bands).

If errors are found, the primary data are verified by contacting the respective respondent and, if error is approved, the data are corrected.

Historical data are reviewed regularly. In practice, the data and calculations on the previous periods are checked when producing price statistics for the current period. Availability of new source data or measurement error are the main reasons for revisions.

Households gas prices collection: 0

Non-households gas prices collection: 0.001419461

Data are provided by all traders of natural gas to household and final non-household customers, distribution network operator and transmission network operator by using a survey "1-GC" (included in the “Official Statistics Programme for 2020–2022”). Information about active gas traders in Latvia is provided by the Public Utilities Commission.

Semi-annual.

https://www.csb.gov.lv/en/for-respondents/questionaires

Exhaustive e-survey on average natural gas prices completed by all active natural gas traders. Reports may be submitted by e-mail or e-survey may be filled in.

Survey manager is responsible for preparing and testing of logical and mathematical controls before the survey starts. During data collection, statisticians verify the data by using controls. After general control, survey manager compares the information with the data on the previous period. Comparative analysis of the reported data is made based on the data on the previous periods and set natural gas tariffs.

Three levels of average prices in the country are estimated by standard group of users. Appropriate quantities of natural gas delivered by each supplier are used as weights to calculate the weighted average energy and supply prices, network costs, and taxes (excluding VAT) in each band. Prices include natural gas price, network price (transmission, distribution), excise, VAT (21%) and fee for the regulation of public utilities.

The same calculation method is used for both household and non-household consumers.

1. Traders of natural gas provide energy and supply prices, taxes (euro/GJ, five decimals) and consumption (GJ, integer) volumes by bands.
2. For each band, the weighted average price, taxes (excluding VAT) are calculated based on the market share of each trader.
3. The distribution network operator provides distribution prices.
4. The transmission network operator provides transmission prices.
5. The primary data are verified. The data submitted by each respondent are compared with historical data. The units of measurement are checked. Then, the data are compared among several respondents. Also, we check prices and tax based on the information in mass media and Public Utilities Commission. If errors are found, the primary data are verified by contacting the respective respondent, and, if error is approved, the data are corrected.
6. Reminder emails are sent to respondents if the data are not submitted within the deadline. We provide consultations to respondents.
7. VAT is calculated based on the sum of energy and supply prices, network prices, excise tax and fee for regulation of public utilities.
8. Data are processed and rounded up to satisfy Eurostat questionnaire requirements.
9. The weighted average price for both semesters serves as the annual data.

0%.

Not applicable.

Seasonable adjustments are not carried out.