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1. Registration in the Register of Natural Gas Traders (RNGT) is mandatory in order to pursue natural gas trading in Latvia, i.e.: (1) to supply natural gas to end-customers, including household and non-household consumers, and/or
(2) to trade in natural gas – i.e., to buy for sale and sell natural gas – on a virtual trading point or in Inčukalns underground gas storage (UGS) in cases where the other party to the transaction is a trader registered in Latvia and the place of the transaction is within the territory of Latvia. Registrations in the RNGT are carried out by PUC (NRA) under the procedural terms and conditions stipulated in the Energy Law, the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities, and the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules. Apart from registration in the RNGT, no further license, permit, and/or other authorization is required to pursue natural gas trading. No local incorporation and/or establishment is required for registration in the RNGT.

2. Gas exchange registration (GER) is required to pursue gas trading on the Baltic-Finnish regional gas exchange (GEX). GERs are carried out by UAB GET Baltic – a company established in Lithuania, which is the operator of the only gas exchange currently operational in the Baltic States and Finland. GER does not exempt a natural gas trader from mandatory registration in the RNGT. No local incorporation and/or establishment is required to qualify for the GER.

Natural gas supply of last resort in Latvia is provided by (1) a public trader – the by-default designated largest gas retailer AS “Latvijas Gāze” – serving household consumers and (2) the DSO’s competitively selected natural gas trader or the DSO itself temporarily serving eligible non-household consumers. Natural gas supply of last resort is not a subject matter of this Guide.

Reporting obligations applicable to wholesale energy traders are highlighted in orange.

Information to be provided for registration/licensing purposes.

Registration and authorisation for gas trading activities in the natural gas market

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Registration and authorisation for gas trading activities in the natural gas market
Legal basis	Article 108 of the Energy Law	Article 18¹of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	Paragraph 4.4 of the CoM Rules on Regulated Public Services	Paragraph 2.5 of and Annex 5 to the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic
Legal reference and convenience translation	Energy Law	Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	CoM Rules on Regulated Public Services	PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC				GET Baltic
Submission deadline	Anytime before commencing natural gas trading activities				Anytime before commencing gas trading on the GEX
Frequency	One-time submission				One-time submission
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Notification on Registration of a Natural Gas Trader (Annex 5)				Request to Grant the Status of the GEX Participant
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader				GEX participant
Comments	Starting from 10 February 2017, companies intending to pursue natural gas trading in Latvia, including retail supply of natural gas to end-customers and/or wholesale trade in natural gas, are mandatorily required to be registered in the RNGT before commencing any gas trading activity. Registration in the RNGT is mandatory to pursue the sale of natural gas to any user, with the exception of the sale of natural gas at automotive gas filling compressor stations. In order for a company to be registered in the RNGT, it must submit to PUC a Notification on Registration of a Natural Gas Trader (Annex 5 to the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules), which shall provide for the applicant’s name, the Energy Identification Code (EIC), authorized representative, legal address, planned natural gas sales per year (in MWh), and contact details. A Notification on Registration of a Natural Gas Trader may be submitted to PUC in one of the following ways: (1) in person, (2) by post delivery, or (3) by e-mail (at sprk@sprk.gov.lv) as an electronic document with a secure electronic signature and time stamp. An e-mail submission is deemed received by PUC on the second working day following its dispatch. Formally, if PUC has not informed the applicant regarding the refusal to register it in the RNGT within one (1) month from the day of receipt of a Notification, it shall be deemed that the applicant is registered in the RNGT. Practically, however, PUC announces that received notifications are reviewed and registrations are made “within a few days”. Once registered in the RNGT, before commencing natural gas trading activities, a company must conclude a Natural Gas Transmission Service Agreement and a Natural Gas Balancing Agreement with the TSO and a Natural Gas Distribution Service Agreement with a DSO.				The Request to Grant the Status of the GEX Participant shall be accompanied by: 1. an extract of the company’s main data issued by the Register of Enterprises or any other competent authority not earlier than sixty (60) days before the date of submission of an application to grant the status of the GEX participant (for legal entities only); 2. form for selection of the GEX service fee plan (see below in “Any applicable statutory fees”); 3. a valid Natural Gas Balancing Agreement concluded with a TSO; 4. information about employees or other authorised persons carrying out trading or other actions on the GEX on behalf of the GEX participant. Changes in these documents, data, and/or information shall be notified by the GEX participant to GET Baltic immediately, but not later than in two (2) business days from the date of the change. Notifications shall be done in a free form by an e-mail submission.

Gas trading license - notification of the changes (corporate data/contact details)

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Gas trading license – notification of the changes (corporate data/contact details)
Legal basis	Paragraph 25¹ of the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	Section II (esp. Paragraph 6) of the PUC General Information Submission Rules	PUC IIAS Regulations	Paragraph 6.6 of the GEX Participant’s Contract
Legal reference and convenience translation	PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	PUC General Information Submission Rules	PUC IIAS Regulations	GEX Participant’s Contract
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC			GET Baltic
Submission deadline	Within thirty (30) days from the date of the change			Within three (3) business days from the date of the change
Frequency	Every time in case of changes in the declared corporate data / contact details			Every time in case of changes in the indicated corporate data / contact details
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Free form information notice to PUC			Free form information notice to GET Baltic (e-mail submission)
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader			GEX participant
Comments	A retail supplier / wholesale trader is required to submit to PUC information regarding the change of its name and information included in the RNGT within thirty (30) days after relevant changes occur. The above-referred information basically refers to all information presented in a Notification on Registration of a Natural Gas Trader. Since there is no notification template announced by PUC, such information may be submitted in a free form information notice. Submissions to PUC shall be done in an electronic form using the Information Input and Processing System (IIAS). If the technical capabilities do not allow the use of IIAS, submission to PUC may be done in one of the following ways: (1) in person, (2) by post delivery, or (3) by e-mail (at sprk@sprk.gov.lv) as an electronic document with a secure electronic signature and time stamp. Please note that obtaining the IIAS account is separate from registration in the RNGT (i.e., PUC’s registration in the RNGT does not automatically provide a natural gas trader with an IIAS account) and shall be processed individually under the IIAS registration terms and conditions stipulated in the PUC IIAS Regulations.			Please note that this applies to changes in corporate data and/or contact details indicated in the GEX Participant’s Contract. Changes in relevant data and information indicated in the Request to Grant the Status of the GEX Participant shall be notified immediately, but not later than in two (2) business days from the date of the change (see above in “Registration and authorisation for gas trading activities in the natural gas market “).

Gas trading license - renewal of license for additional period

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Gas trading license – renewal of license for additional period
Legal basis	Article 108(4) and (7) of the Energy Law	Article 18¹(6)-(8) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	Section 4 of the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	Paragraph 5.1 of the GEX Participant’s Contract
Legal reference and convenience translation	Energy Law	Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	GEX Participant’s Contract
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC			GET Baltic
Submission deadline	n/a			n/a
Frequency	n/a			n/a
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	n/a			n/a
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader			GEX participant
Comments	Natural gas traders – i.e., retail suppliers and wholesale traders – are registered in the RNGT for an indefinite period of time until their exclusion therefrom under the terms and conditions stipulated in the Energy Law, the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities, and the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules. Such exclusion can be done on the initiative of a natural gas trader or, in case of violations of regulatory conditions, on the initiative of PUC. Once excluded from the RNGT, a natural gas trader is required to renew its registration to pursue natural gas trading activities (see above in “Registration and authorisation for gas trading activities in the natural gas market”). In cases of exclusions due to violated regulatory conditions, a natural gas trader is allowed to resume natural gas trading not earlier than after twelve (12) months from the day when it was excluded from the RNGT.			GER and corresponding GEX Participant’s Contract remain valid for an indefinite period of time until not cancelled pursuant to Section 5 of the GEX Participant’s Contract and the GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic.

Changes in the corporate data/contact details set out in the agreement concluded with the TSO

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Changes in the corporate data/contact details set out in the agreement concluded with the TSO
Legal basis	Paragraph 7.2 of the Natural Gas Transmission Service Agreement	Paragraph 7.2 of the Natural Gas Balancing Agreement
Legal reference and convenience translation	Natural Gas Transmission Service Agreement	Natural Gas Balancing Agreement
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	Conexus Baltic Grid (TSO)
Submission deadline	Within three (3) business days from the date of the change
Frequency	Every time in case of changes in the indicated corporate data / contact details
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Free form information notice to Conexus Baltic Grid (e-mail submission)
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Applicable to both retail suppliers and wholesale traders, which – after their registration in the RNGT – are required to conclude and further possess a valid Natural Gas Transmission Service Agreement and Natural Gas Balancing Agreement with the TSO. Notification of changes in the corporate data/contact details set out in the agreement with the TSO need to be notified “immediately”, but not later than within three (3) business days from the date of the respective change.

Changes in the corporate data/contact details set out in the agreement concluded with the DSO

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Changes in the corporate data/contact details set out in the agreement concluded with the DSO
Legal basis	Paragraph 10.1 of the Natural Gas Distribution Service Agreement
Legal reference and convenience translation	Natural Gas Distribution Service Agreement
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	Gaso (DSO)
Submission deadline	Within one (1) business day from the date of the change
Frequency	Every time in case of changes in the indicated corporate data / contact details
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Free form information notice to Gaso (e-mail submission)
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Applicable to both retail suppliers and wholesale traders, which – after their registration in the RNGT – are required to conclude and further possess a valid Natural Gas Distribution Service Agreement with the DSO.

Any applicable statutory fees (e.g. import fees, licence fees, supervisory fees, operational fees)

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Any applicable statutory fees (e.g. import fees, licence fees, supervisory fees, operational fees)
Legal basis	Articles 30 and 31 of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	Section III of and Annex 1 to the PUC General Information Submission Rules	Paragraphs 93-101 of the GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic
Legal reference and convenience translation	Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	PUC General Information Submission Rules	GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC		GET Baltic
Submission deadline	Four times per calendar year (see in comments)		See in comments
Frequency	Four times per calendar year (see in comments)		See in comments
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	n/a		Form for Selection of the GEX Service Fee Plan
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader		GEX participant
Comments	Natural gas traders – i.e., retail suppliers and wholesale traders – are required to pay a state fee for PUC’s activities in regulating public services (natural gas trading is considered a “regulated public service” pursuant to Paragraph 4.4 of the Rules on Regulated Public Services). The annual rate of a state fee is 0.2 per cent of the natural gas traders’ net turnover in the previous calendar year, but not less than EUR 200 per calendar year. A company commencing natural gas trading activities shall pay a state fee for the first year of operation from the net turnover of the natural gas trading activity planned by the company in the first year of operation, but not less than EUR 200 per calendar year. Calculations of a state fee are done pursuant to Annex 1 to the PUC General Information Submission Rules. The amount of a state fee payable in a calendar year shall be divided into four equal instalments. The first instalment shall be paid by 10 January, the second – by 10 April, the third – by 10 July, and the fourth – by 10 October. Please note that there are no statutory fees for registration of a natural gas trader in the RNGT (i.e., respective PUC’s services are free of charge).		GEX initial registration fee is not applied (i.e., GER is provided free of charge). GEX participant can choose one of two GEX Service Fee Plans: Plan #1: annual membership fee – EUR 5,000; floating trading fee – EUR 0.08 per MWh; Plan #2: annual membership fee – EUR 0; floating trading fee – EUR 0.12 per MWh. GEX Service Fee Plan may be changed and fees shall be paid under the terms and conditions stipulated in the GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic.

Notification on termination of gas trading activities in the natural gas market

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Notification on termination of gas trading activities in the natural gas market
Legal basis	Paragraph 11 of the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	Paragraphs 4 and 12 of and Annex 6 to the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	Section 5 of the GEX Participant’s Contract
Legal reference and convenience translation	PUC Authorization and Registration Rules		GEX Participant’s Contract
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC		GET Baltic
Submission deadline	At least thirty (30) days in advance regarding suspension of activities	At least sixty (60) days in advance regarding termination of activities	At least thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated cancellation of the GEX Participant’s Contract
Frequency	One-time submission		One-time submission
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Free form information notice to PUC	Notice of Termination (Annex 6)	Free form information notice to GET Baltic (e-mail submission)
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader		GEX participant
Comments	A natural gas trader – i.e., retail supplier or wholesale trader, planning to suspend its natural gas trading activities, shall notify PUC accordingly at least thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated suspension of natural gas trading activities. In cases of unplanned suspensions, such notification shall be made immediately and without delay once the eventual suspension of natural gas trading activities becomes known. Since there is no notification template announced by PUC, the suspension notice may be submitted in a free form information notice. Submissions to PUC shall be done in an electronic form using the Information Input and Processing System (IIAS). If the technical capabilities do not allow the use of IIAS, submission to PUC may be done in one of the following ways: (1) in person, (2) by post delivery, or (3) by e-mail (at sprk@sprk.gov.lv) as an electronic document with a secure electronic signature and time stamp.	A natural gas trader – i.e., retail supplier or wholesale trader, planning to terminate its natural gas trading activities, shall notify PUC accordingly at least sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated termination of natural gas trading activities. In cases of unplanned terminations, such notification shall be made immediately and without delay once the eventual termination of natural gas trading activities becomes known. In cases of termination of its activities, a natural gas trader must submit to PUC a Notice of Termination (Annex 6 to the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules). Submissions to PUC shall be done in an electronic form using the Information Input and Processing System (IIAS). If the technical capabilities do not allow the use of IIAS, submission to PUC may be done in one of the following ways: (1) in person, (2) by post delivery, or (3) by e-mail (at sprk@sprk.gov.lv) as an electronic document with a secure electronic signature and time stamp.	The GEX Participant’s Contract may be cancelled on request of any party by a written notice to the other party not later than thirty (30) days before the anticipated cancellation. Other possible cases for cancellation of the GEX Participant’s Contract are specified in Section 5 of the GEX Participant’s Contract and the GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic.

Commercial information relating to existing or planned trading activities in the given market

Annual (activity) report, including annual turnover, financial statements, annual accounts

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Annual (activity) report, including annual turnover, financial statements, annual accounts
Legal basis	Article 12 of the Energy Law	Chapter XVI (esp. Article 96) of the Law on Annual Accounts and Consolidated Annual Accounts	Paragraph 4 of the PUC Information Submission Rules	PUC Regulation on Public Access to the Financial Information
Legal reference and convenience translation	Energy Law	Law on Annual Accounts and Consolidated Annual Accounts	PUC Information Submission Rules	PUC Regulation on Public Access to the Financial Information
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC, customers (general public)
Submission deadline	Within one (1) month after approval of the annual report and consolidated annual report
Frequency	Annually
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	1. Free form information notice to PUC 2. Access to hardcopies at the customer service centre and/or legal address (headquarters)
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Natural gas traders – i.e., retail suppliers and wholesale traders – are obliged to prepare, approve, submit, and publish annual reports and consolidated annual reports under the terms and conditions stipulated in Chapter XVI (Articles 94-100) of the Law on Annual Accounts and Consolidated Annual Accounts. Please note that certain accounting specifics, including the reporting terms and conditions, do depend on the size of the company. Not later than in one (1) month after approval of the annual report and consolidated annual report, a natural gas trader shall submit to PUC its balance sheet, profit and loss account, and cash flow statement. A natural gas trader shall compile its balance sheet, profit and loss account, and cash flow statement separately for each type of energy supply in internal accounting as if a separate company were engaged in each type of energy supply (unbundling of accounts). Since there is no notification template announced by PUC, a natural gas trader’s financial information may be submitted in a free form information notice. Submissions to PUC shall be done in an electronic form using the Information Input and Processing System (IIAS). If the technical capabilities do not allow the use of IIAS, submission to PUC may be done in one of the following ways: (1) in person, (2) by post delivery, or (3) by e-mail (at sprk@sprk.gov.lv) as an electronic document with a secure electronic signature and time stamp. Customers (as well as general public) shall be granted access to the balance sheet, profit and loss account, and cash flow statement of a natural gas trader at its customer service centre and/or legal address (headquarters), as required under the PUC Regulation on Public Access to the Financial Information.

Yearly/Quarterly/Monthly domestic and cross-border purchase / sale of natural gas

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Yearly/Quarterly/Monthly domestic and cross-border purchase / sale of natural gas
Legal basis	Article 5(5) of the Energy Law	Article 25(1) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	Section II of the PUC General Information Submission Rules	Paragraph 18 of and Annexes 24 and 25 to the PUC Information Submission Rules
Legal reference and convenience translation	Energy Law	Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	PUC General Information Submission Rules	PUC Information Submission Rules
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC
Submission deadline	Within one (1) month following each calendar quarter
Frequency	Quarterly
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Annexes 24 and 25 to the PUC Information Submission Rules
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Quarterly Reports on the Natural Gas Trading Activity Report #1 on natural gas trade and supply pursuant to Annex 24 of the PUC Information Submission Rules: amount of natural gas sold per month, revenues from natural gas trade, number of sales contracts (distinguishing the requested information by the type of offer chosen by users), and number of users. Report #2 on natural gas purchase pursuant to Annex 25 of the PUC Information Submission Rules: natural gas purchase information (including domestic and cross-border purchases). Both reports shall be submitted on quarterly basis, i.e.: by 1 February, 1 May, 1 August, and 1 November for each respective previous calendar quarter. A natural gas trader shall submit its reports to PUC in an electronic form using the Information Input and Processing System (IIAS). If the technical capabilities of PUC or a natural gas trader do not allow the use of IIAS, a natural gas trader’s reports may be submitted to PUC in one of the following ways: (1) in person, (2) by post delivery, or (3) by e-mail (at sprk@sprk.gov.lv) as an electronic document with a secure electronic signature and time stamp. Please note that additional reports are required from natural gas traders engaged as a public trader and as a natural gas supplier of last resort (see Paragraphs 18.2 and 18.3 of the PUC Information Submission Rules). These activities are not a subject matter of this Guide.

Information about the concluded contracts, performance of import agreements in a given period

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Information about the concluded contracts, performance of import agreements in a given period (including type of transaction/agreement, import/export volumes, price, counterparties) – yearly, quarterly, monthly
Legal basis	Paragraph 18 of and Annexes 24 and 25 to the PUC Information Submission Rules
Legal reference and convenience translation	PUC Information Submission Rules
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC
Submission deadline	Within one (1) month following each calendar quarter
Frequency	Quarterly
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Annexes 24 and 25 to the PUC Information Submission Rules
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Information on executed natural gas trade (including end-customer supply) contracts shall be submitted to PUC as part of Report #1 on natural gas trade and supply pursuant to Annex 24 of the PUC Information Submission Rules. Information on executed natural gas purchase (including import) contracts hall be submitted to PUC as part of Report #2 on natural gas trade and supply pursuant to Annex 25 of the PUC Information Submission Rules. For relevant reporting requirements see above in “Yearly/Quarterly/Monthly domestic and cross-border purchase / sale of natural gas”.

Submission of financial information necessary for the calculation of the statutory regulatory fee

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Submission of financial information necessary for the calculation of the statutory regulatory fee
Legal basis	Section III of and Annex 1 to the PUC General Information Submission Rules
Legal reference and convenience translation	PUC General Information Submission Rules
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC
Submission deadline	See in comments
Frequency	See in comments
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Annex 1 to the PUC General Information Submission Rules
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	A natural gas trader – i.e., retail supplier and wholesale trader – shall submit to PUC information regarding the calculated state fee (see above in “Any applicable statutory fees”) pursuant to Annex 1 to the PUC General Information Submission Rules. Respective information regarding the calculated state fee shall be submitted to PUC: 1. in the first calendar year of operation – within thirty (30) days after registration of a natural gas trader in the RNGT; 2. in the second calendar year of operation – by 30 January of the relevant calendar year, regarding the calculated state fee for the relevant calendar year and, by 15 July of the relevant calendar year, for the calculated state fee for the next calendar year and, if necessary, specify the information regarding the calculated state fee in the first and second calendar year of operation; 3. in the third and subsequent calendar years of operation – by 15 July of the relevant calendar year, for the calculated state fee for the next calendar year. A natural gas trader shall report to PUC in an electronic form using the Information Input and Processing System (IIAS). If the technical capabilities of PUC or a natural gas trader do not allow the use of IIAS, a natural gas trader’s reports may be submitted to PUC in one of the following ways: (1) in person, (2) by post delivery, or (3) by e-mail (at sprk@sprk.gov.lv) as an electronic document with a secure electronic signature and time stamp.

Data on the supply of natural gas to end-customers

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Data on the supply of natural gas to end-customers
Legal basis	Paragraph 18 of and Annex 24 to the PUC Information Submission Rules
Legal reference and convenience translation	PUC Information Submission Rules
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC
Submission deadline	Within one (1) month following each calendar quarter
Frequency	Quarterly
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Annex 24 to the PUC Information Submission Rules
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Information on executed natural gas trade (including end-customer supply) contracts shall be submitted to PUC as part of Report #1 on natural gas trade and supply pursuant to Annex 24 of the PUC Information Submission Rules. For relevant reporting requirements see above in “Yearly/Quarterly/Monthly domestic and cross-border purchase / sale of natural gas”.

Data on investigations of complaints received from customers

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Data on investigations of complaints received from customers
Legal basis	Article 25(4)-(6) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities
Legal reference and convenience translation	Law on Regulators of Public Utilities
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC
Submission deadline	n/a
Frequency	n/a
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	n/a
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Obligations concerning mandatory provision of a response to written submissions and complaints received from customers are imposed on natural gas traders – i.e., retail supplier and wholesale traders – under Article 25(4)-(6) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities. However, natural gas traders – unlike the DSO, for example – are not obliged to report to PUC regarding the number of complaints received and the overall quality of their investigation. It is assumed that such data and information may be received by PUC based on its ad hoc requests for information pursuant to Article 25(1)-(3) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities.

REMIT reporting obligations

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	REMIT reporting obligations
Legal basis	Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011
Legal reference and convenience translation	Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC, ACER
Submission deadline	Pursuant to REMIT
Frequency	Pursuant to REMIT
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Pursuant to REMIT and as procedurally set by PUC
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 is directly applicable in Latvia, therefore a set of its reporting obligations – obligation to publish inside information (Article 4), record of wholesale gas market transactions (Article 8), registration of market participants (Article 10) – shall be implemented pursuant to respective rules stipulated therein. Certain procedural arrangements, such as applicable for registration of market participants, are systematically published by PUC on a REMIT dedicated section of its website (see PUC website: For Business –> Natural Gas –> REMIT) . REMIT reporting obligations are applied to those natural gas traders who trade in wholesale natural gas products.

Security of supply

Storage obligation

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Storage obligation
Legal basis	Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938	Article 64 of the Energy Law	Paragraphs 4¹, 12¹-12³ and Section VII¹of the CoM Procedure for Supply during the Energy Crisis	Preventive Action Plan for Natural Gas
Legal reference and convenience translation	Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2017 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply and repealing Regulation (EU) No 994/2010	Energy Law	CoM Procedure for Supply during the Energy Crisis	Preventive Action Plan for Natural Gas
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	Conexus Baltic Grid (TSO)
Submission deadline	n/a
Frequency	n/a
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	n/a
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Gas supply standard is applied as established under Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938. In Latvia, gas supply standard is ensured through the natural gas security reserve to be formed, stored, and used by the TSO and UGS operator (Conexus Baltic Grid) under the terms and conditions stipulated in the Energy Law and the CoM Procedure for Supply during the Energy Crisis. The natural gas security reserve is stored in the Inčukalns UGS and may be used to ensure natural gas supplies to protected customers under specific crisis conditions pursuant to a respective decision of the State Energy Crisis Centre (under the Ministry of Economics). For the purpose thereof, the TSO is required to ensure that, in the period from the end of the natural gas injection season, the amount of active natural gas in the Inčukalns UGS is not less than 3160 thousand MWh (or 300 million cubic meters). Protected customers are deemed household customers and non-household customers defined under Article 2(5)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 and specified under Paragraph 4¹.1 of the CoM Procedure for Supply during the Energy Crisis. Individual natural gas traders – i.e., retail suppliers and/or wholesale traders – are not obliged to store natural gas for security purposes, but they are free to participate in the TSO’s open tenders for the storage, and ensured availability of natural gas at the Inčukalns UGS for their potential use within the capacity of the natural gas security reserve. The winning tenderer (or tenderers) undertake respective obligations pursuant to contractual arrangements with the TSO.

Obligations in cases of energy emergencies

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Obligations in cases of energy emergencies
Legal basis	Article 64 of the Energy Law	CoM Procedure for Supply during the Energy Crisis	Preventive Action Plan for Natural Gas
Legal reference and convenience translation	Energy Law	CoM Procedure for Supply during the Energy Crisis	Preventive Action Plan for Natural Gas
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	Conexus Baltic Grid (TSO), Gaso (DSO), State Energy Crisis Centre, local government energy crisis centres
Submission deadline	n/a
Frequency	n/a
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	n/a
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	In cases of energy crisis, natural gas traders may be responsible for: 1. activation of the natural gas security reserve stored at the Inčukalns UGS pursuant to contractual arrangements with the TSO (see above in “Storage obligation”); 2. complying with the instructions concerning restrictions on energy supply and consumption issued pursuant to Sections III and IV of the CoM Procedure for Supply during the Energy Crisis; 3. complying with the instructions of the State Energy Crisis Centre and/or local government energy crisis centres concerning use of fuel safety reserves and purchase-sale of fuel safety reserves pursuant to Sections VI and VII of the CoM Procedure for Supply during the Energy Crisis, in cases where a natural gas trader is also engaged in fuel supply activities; 4. implementing specific obligations imposed under the Preventive Action Plan for Natural Gas (e.g., a number of specific obligations are imposed on the largest trader AS “Latvijas Gāze”).

Notification of each natural gas supply agreement, cross-border trading agreement above certain duration period

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Notification of each natural gas supply agreement, cross-border trading agreement above certain duration period
Legal basis	Article 14(6) of Regulation (EU) No 2017/1938	Article 60(2) of the Energy Law	Paragraph 5.9 of the Regulations of the Ministry of Economic
Legal reference and convenience translation	Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2017 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply and repealing Regulation (EU) No 994/2010	Energy Law	Regulations of the Ministry of Economics
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	Ministry of Economics
Submission deadline	Ad hoc
Frequency	Ad hoc
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	In a written form to be submitted to the Ministry of Economics in person and/or by e-mail
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Ministry of Economics is the competent authority for implementation of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 in Latvia, including for the purposes of information exchange under Article 14 thereof. Natural gas traders shall therefore notify the Ministry of Economics on conclusion or modification of natural gas supply contracts with a duration of more than one (1) year as required under Article 14(6) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938.

Operational/ IT information

Data on quality of supply and other services

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Data on quality of supply and other services
Legal basis	Article 22(3) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	Paragraphs 22 and 26 of the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules
Legal reference and convenience translation	Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	PUC Authorization and Registration Rules
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC
Submission deadline	n/a
Frequency	n/a
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	n/a
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Natural gas traders – i.e., retail suppliers and wholesale traders – have a general obligation to ensure the quality of their services in compliance with the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities and regulatory enactments, technical regulations, standards, and contractual provisions. However, natural gas traders – unlike the DSO, for example – are not obliged to report to PUC regarding particular quality parameters of their provided services. It is assumed that quality of the services provided by natural gas traders may be inquired by PUC on an ad hoc basis in a form of its requests for information pursuant to Article 25(1)-(3) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities. Respective quality parameters may include, for example, efficiency of conclusion of natural gas supply contracts, investigation of the consumers’ complaints, and effectuation of the supplier switching.

Evidence that the financial security is maintained for each year of validity of the license

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Evidence that the financial security is maintained for each year of validity of the license
Legal basis	Paragraph 26 of the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	Paragraphs 102-121 and 143 of the GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic
Legal reference and convenience translation	PUC Authorization and Registration Rules	GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC	GET Baltic
Submission deadline	n/a	Not later than one (1) business day prior to the beginning of gas trading on the GEX
Frequency	n/a	One-time / ad hoc
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	n/a	In a form of collaterals prescribed under the GEX Trading Regulation
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader	GEX participant
Comments	It is generally required that natural gas traders – i.e., retail suppliers and wholesale traders – provide PUC with information regarding the economic and financial performance indicators thereof, as well as provide PUC with access to perform inspections. It is assumed that respective “economic and financial performance indicators” of natural gas traders coincide with the data submitted in quarterly reports pursuant to Annexes 24 and 25 of the PUC Information Submission Rules (see above in “Yearly/Quarterly/Monthly domestic and cross-border purchase / sale of natural gas”). There are no further requirements related to the financial security evidence of natural gas traders (apart from specific requirements to GEX participants (see below)).	A GEX participant, in order to fulfil order to buy, shall transfer to the bank account indicated by the GEX Operator the prepayment or submit the collateral the value of which should be no less than the value of foreseen orders price, including VAT and floating trading fee. The GEX Operator shall be entitled to provide an additional trading limit that is not subject to the submission of any collateral or prepayment. The decision regarding the provision of the additional trading limit shall be adopted by the meeting of the Board of the GEX Operator with due consideration of the risk level of each GEX participant individually, based on such criteria as the GEX participant’s financial position, the execution of their obligations to goods or services suppliers and other circumstances, which influence the financial risk. The GEX Operator is entitled to request the information required to evaluate the financial standing of a GEX Participant provided that this is required for the performance of the activity of the GEX. Such information shall be submitted to the GEX Operator in five (5) business days following the GEX Operator’s request (see below in “Provision of information to the GEX Operator”).

Provision of the system-related information to the TSO

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Provision of the system-related information to the TSO
Legal basis	Contractual arrangements with the TSO		Common Natural Gas Transmission System Regulations
Legal reference and convenience translation	Natural Gas Transmission Service Agreement	Natural Gas Balancing Agreement	Common Regulation for the Use of the Natural Gas Transmission System	Common Regulations for the Natural Gas Balancing of the Transmission System
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	Conexus Baltic Grid (TSO)
Submission deadline	Ad hoc
Frequency	Ad hoc
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Free form information notices to Conexus Baltic Grid (TSO) submitted in person and/or by email
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Exchanges in the system-related information between the TSO and natural gas traders are executed on the basis of respective contractual arrangements – the Natural Gas Transmission Service Agreement and the Natural Gas Balancing Agreement – under the terms and conditions stipulated in the natural gas transmission system regulations and other applicable legal acts (including directly applicable EU Gas Network Codes). The TSO is also one of the entities entitled by law for retrieving an ad hoc information from gas undertakings, if such information is required to perform the TSO’s tasks.

Provision of the system-related information to the DSO

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Provision of the system-related information to the DSO
Legal basis	Section 9 of the Natural Gas Distribution Service Agreement
Legal reference and convenience translation	Natural Gas Distribution Service Agreement
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	Gaso (DSO)
Submission deadline	Ad hoc
Frequency	Ad hoc
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Free form information notices to Gaso (TSO) submitted in person and/or by email
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Exchanges in the system-related information between the DSO and natural gas traders are executed on the basis of the Natural Gas Distribution Service Agreement. The DSO is also one of the entities entitled by law for retrieving an ad hoc information from gas undertakings, if such information is required to perform the DSO’s tasks.

Provision of information to consumers

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Provision of information to consumers
Legal basis	Article 107(6) of the Energy Law	Article 25(4)-(6) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	Sections III and IV (et alia) of the CoM Terms of Trade and Use of Natural Gas	PUC Rules on Information of End-Users
Legal reference and convenience translation	Energy Law	Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	CoM Terms of Trade and Use of Natural Gas	PUC Rules on Information of End-Users
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	Customers
Submission deadline	n/a
Frequency	Continual
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Online publication / indication in service contracts / indication in billing information / submission upon request
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	Each natural gas trader – i.e., retail supplier and wholesale trader – is required to ensure that its customers are provided with an access to and/or is individually provided with an information regarding contractual relations with the natural gas trader, specification of services, applicable prices, billing information, consumer rights, rules for investigation of complaints, dispute settlement rules, actual consumption of natural gas, and other information prescribed by the Energy Law, Law on Regulators of Public Utilities, the CoM Terms of Trade and Use of Natural Gas, and the PUC Rules on Information of End-Users, which corresponds with Paragraph 1 of Annex I to Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas. Such information shall be provided to customers free of charge.

Provision of information to the GEX Operator

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Provision of information to the GEX Operator
Legal basis	Paragraphs 143 and 150-153 of the GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic
Legal reference and convenience translation	GEX Trading Regulation of GET Baltic
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	GET Baltic
Submission deadline	In five (5) business days following the GEX Operator’s request
Frequency	Ad hoc
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Free form information submitted to GET Baltic in an electronic form (by e-mail or via the Electronic Trading System (ETS))
Applicable for	GEX participant
Comments	Each GEX participant shall deliver to the GEX Operator the information required to duly carry out the monitoring of trade in natural gas. Reporting to the GEX Operator is regulated by the GEX Participant’s Agreement and the GEX Trading Regulation.

Any other information upon the request of the NRA (supply agreements, transport / storage agreements, etc.)

(Standard) Information category / document to be submitted	Any other information upon the request of the NRA (supply agreements, transport / storage agreements, etc.)
Legal basis	Article 10 of the Energy Law	Article 25(1)-(3) of the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	Paragraph 25 of the PUC Authorization and Registration Rules
Legal reference and convenience translation	Energy Law	Law on Regulators of Public Utilities	PUC Authorization and Registration Rules
Recipient (NRA, TSO, power exchange etc.)	PUC
Submission deadline	Ad hoc
Frequency	Ad hoc
Form of submission (internet page, e-mail, original copy etc.)	Free form information notices to PUC (based on respective ad hoc requests for information)
Applicable for	Retail supplier / wholesale trader
Comments	PUC, while performing its functions specified in the Law on Regulators of Public Utilities, has the right to request and receive without hindrance the information necessary for the performance of its tasks, regardless of its degree of secrecy. PUC may request information, inter alia, from all natural gas traders (including retail suppliers and wholesale traders). A natural gas trader must provide the information requested by PUC at the time and in accordance with the procedures specified by PUC. This obligation reaches beyond mandatory reporting to PUC described above and covers any PUC’s ad hoc request for information within the scope of its regulatory competence A natural gas trader must provide PUC with the opportunity to freely obtain: 1. any information on its provided services; 2. the necessary information regarding other types of commercial activities; 3. an opportunity to get acquainted with the accounting documents. A natural gas trader must also ensure the possibility for PUC to perform the inspection and control necessary for the performance of public service regulation functions, as well as the possibility to access equipment and measuring instruments.

Contact information

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (NRA)
Address: Ūnijas str. 45, LV-1039 Riga, Latvia
Tel: +371 67 097 200
E-mail: sprk@sprk.gov.lv
Web: link

MINISTRY OF ECONOMICS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA
Address: Brīvības str. 55, LV-1519 Riga, Latvia
Tel: +371 67 013 100
E-mail: pasts@em.gov.lv
Web: link

AS “CONEXUS BALTIC GRID” (GAS TSO & UGS OPERATOR)

Address: Stigu str. 14, LV-1021 Riga, Latvia
Tel: +371 67 087 900
E-mail: info@conexus.lv
Web: link

AS “GASO” (GAS DSO)

Address: Vagonu str. 20, LV-1009 Riga, Latvia
Tel: +371 67 041 818
E-mail: info@gaso.lv
Web: link

UAB GET BALTIC (GEX OPERATOR)

Address: Geležinio vilko str. 18A, LT-08104 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel: +370 5 236 0000
E-mail: info@getbaltic.com
Web: link

AS “LATVIJAS GĀZE” (PUBLIC TRADER)

Address: Vagonu str. 20, LV-1009 Riga, Latvia
Tel: +371 67 869 866
E-mail: info@lg.lv
Web: link

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