July 9, 2025 — The Latvian Competition Council (CC) has fined the water utility company Mārupes Komunālie Pakalpojumi (MCP) €78,055.79 for abusing its dominant position in the Mārupe municipality’s water services market.
According to the CC decision on June 26, MCP restricted competition by monopolizing the market for the installation and replacement of additional water consumption meters—devices that allow customers to separately measure water used for non-sewage purposes, such as garden watering. Between January 2022 and June 2023, MCP barred customers and third-party certified installers from fitting these meters themselves, forcing them to rely solely on MCP’s own services.
Furthermore, since June 2023, MCP has required customers to pay sewage fees even when no wastewater enters the sewer system—meaning customers pay nearly three times more for services they do not use.
The Competition Council found MCP dominant in three related markets within Mārupe (excluding Spilve village): centralized water supply, centralized sewage services, and installation/replacement of additional meters. This dominance stems from MCP’s exclusive contract with the municipality as the sole water management provider.
The fine is accompanied by legal obligations compelling MCP to restore competitive conditions: within three months, customers must be allowed to install additional meters either themselves or via other certified companies. MCP must also inform customers publicly about these changes.
The Council emphasized that MCP’s conduct violated fair competition rules and harmed consumers by limiting choice and inflating costs. MCP has 45 days to pay the fine to the state budget.
