April 3, 2017 marks the start of a natural gas market fully open to free competition, which it is hoped will give consumers more choice, stimulate price competition and improve security of supply.
Household users will now be able to sign contracts with alternative suppliers to receive natural gas from them from May 1.
In future, the former Latvijas Gaze monopoly is split into two companies, one in charge of the existing delivery and storage infrastructure and another competing with others as a merchant.
According to the LETA newswire, fifteen companies have registered to act as gas supply companies, including two from Lithuania.
As previously reported by LSM, last year the three prime ministers of the Baltic states committed themselves to opening up the region's gas market to competition and signed a declaration to that end with 2020 mentioned as the date when full competition would be up and running.
