In January 2008, Latvenergo AS founded a subsidiary company in Lithuania - Latvenergo Prekyba UAB to commence utilisation of the business opportunities provided by an open electricity market in the Baltic States. This subsidiary company of Latvenergo AS plans purchases of electricity from producers in Lithuania, as well as – in the long-term – electricity sales to end users in Lithuania or direct electricity sales without the services of an intermediary.
February 2008 marked the launch of the Customer Service Portal, e-latvenergo.lv. Latvenergo AS took a step towards being more accessible for its clients by offering the new service instrument from 17 February. Clients of the new portal, e-latvenergo.lv can quickly and conveniently check their electricity consumption, make payments, receive statements, apply for Latvenergo’s services, send us a question and conduct other actions independently. The automatic balanced payment is also new.
The storm of 22-23 February 2008: On the evening of 23 February, 0.3% of our service area, approximately 2,500 clients, was without electricity. The most serious damage occurred in Kurzeme and Latgale. In total, 130 Sadales tīkls AS regional and repair and construction brigades and about 20 brigades formed by contractors worked to eradicate the consequences of the storm.
In 2008, the construction of an electricity network for historically non-electrified rural houses was completed. After the conclusion of an agreement on 9 October 2003 between Latvenergo AS and the LR Ministry of Economics, a connection to the electricity network has been built from 189 houses and a total sum of LVL 3.3 million has been invested in the project.
On 3 April 2008, Latvenergo AS Management Board Chairman, Karlis Mikelsons, Management Board Member, Aigars Melko and Education and Science Minister, Tatjana Koke signed a joint cooperation agreement providing for systematic cooperation in the education of children and youngsters in electricity safety matters: joint preparation of methodological and information materials, organisation of events both at educational institutions and Latvenergo AS premises, notifying schoolchildren and teachers about various matters related to electricity and electrical safety. This partnership provides for the organisation of a bi-annual Safety Week for schoolchildren to be held each spring and again in the autumn.
On 18 April 2008, in support of the nationwide spring clean up month and underlining their contribution to the improvement of the surrounding environment, the management and Management Board of Latvenergo AS participated in a project to clean up the ruins at Koknese Castle and the surrounding area.
In 2008, continuing the testing of the new power generating unit equipment at Riga TEC-2, the gas turbine was switched on for the first time on 22 April to make sure that the assembly of the equipment had been carried out in accordance with the technical documentation of its manufacturer, General Electric. This process confirmed that the gas turbine was in working order.
On 30 April 2008, the 110/20/6 V Cesis substation re-entered service after reconstruction which will significantly improve the quality and safety of electricity supply to the residents of the region of Vidzeme. Reconstruction of Sadales tīkls AS 20/6 kV switching substation has been completed, and Augstsprieguma tīkls AS is also planning to reconstruct its 10 kV switching substation.
On 18 May 2008, as part of Museum Night, the Museum of Energy hosted a broad programme of education and leisure events for kids and adults within the grounds of Kegums HES. The event was attended by more than 700 visitors.
In May 2008, to provide information about the involvement of electricity market participants in the free market, Latvenergo AS launched a new Internet site for its clients: www.t.latvenergo.lv which provides wide ranging information about electricity trading. It explains how to become a participant in the electricity market, as well as the operating principles of the free market and the regulatory documents that regulate the participation of clients in the free market.
On 5 June 2008, an outstanding performance in every stage of the competition “Experiment” organised by Latvenergo AS, a team from Jekabpils State Secondary School, win a trip to the French spa town of Nice. In 2008, 235 Latvian school teams applied to take part in the competition. Latvenergo AS has been organising this competition for more than a decade to educate schoolchildren in the safe and efficient use of electricity in the home and at school and to stimulate the interest of youngsters in science.
On 25 June 2008, fast work on the part of the Augstsprieguma tīkls AS Dispatcher Service and its cooperation with Lithuania’s transmission system operator prevented a 1,200 MW overload in the mutual connection of the Belarusian and Russian power systems caused by the disconnection of the Lukomla power station in Belarus.
On 14 July 2008, there were significant disruptions to the supply of electricity in Livani, Balvi, Vilaka and Karsava. Strong winds and local whirlwinds knocked down trees which damaged power lines and equipment leaving around 4,600 clients without electricity.
On 17-18 September 2008, a work wagon delivered hydropower unit no.5 from the Port of Ventspils to the plant. The freight consignments containing components weighing 100 tonnes had been transported from the Port of Rotterdam. The work wagon was manufactured at the Alstom plant in Grenoble, France which specialises in the production of hydromechanical equipment. For the reconstruction of Plavinas HES( HPP), Latvenergo AS signed a contract with Alstom Power Sweden AB which will supply equipment and supervise assembly work.
In September 2008, the Latvenergo Group introduced a new logo. Changes in the Group’s vision, strategy and values have influenced the development of its brand, as a result of which it was decided to revamp the brand and introduce the use of the new logo from the New Year onwards.
In October 2008, the Supervisory Council of Latvenergo AS extended the term of office of Management Board Chairman, Karlis Mikelsons for another three years. Mikelsons has headed the Latvenergo AS Management Board since March 2000 and was re-elected to his office in 2002 and November 2005.
In November 2008, Sadales tīkls AS Repairs and Construction Service employees – fitter Vladimirs Vasilevics, electricians Jurijs Dobrosolcevs and Viktors Andruskevics, as well as Latgale Transport and Communications Technical School vocational student Pavels Jurkins were nominated for the Pride of Latvia award, due to their role in an incident en route to work on the morning of 26 March during which they witnessed an accident and then proceeded to save the life of a drowning car driver.
On 23 November 2008, the whole of Latvia was afflicted by a blizzard and gale force winds that caused electricity supply disruptions for around 25,000 of the company’s clients across Latvia. Northern, central, north-eastern and eastern regions were most seriously affected by the storm.
26 November 2008 marked the conclusion of a survey conducted by WorkingDay Latvia SIA which sought to identify “The Most Sought After Employer in 2008”. Swedbank was deemed to be the most sought after employer in Latvia, but the Latvenergo Group achieved the lofty ranking of 4th place. This was the second time that the survey had been conducted in Latvia.
On 30 November 2008, celebrations were held in honour of Andrejsala’s name day in which the Museum of Energy took part by organising a number of activities. A total of about 80 interested visitors visited the Museum of Energy on this day.
On 10 December 2008, journalists were present at Plavinas HES to observe the transportation of the power plant’s fifth hydropower unit (HA) weighing almost 100 tonnes to the work wagon and its lifting into the HA shaft. The overall reconstruction of its hydropower units will ensure the successful operation of Plavinas HES for the next 40 years, while repair costs will be reduced by 40%. The reconstruction project began in 2007, and it will be completed in 2010.
