RIGA, April 1, 2026 — Latvia’s Competition Council of Latvia has settled a legal dispute with utility company Mārupes komunālie pakalpojumi (MKP) following the company’s acknowledgment of competition law violations.
The case stems from a decision issued by the authority in June 2025, which found that MKP had abused its dominant position in the Mārupes municipality water services market. According to the regulator, the company had prevented other businesses from installing additional water consumption meters in the area without objective justification.
The authority also found that some customers receiving only water supply services were required to pay for sewage services even when they did not use them, increasing the cost of service. The practices were found to restrict competition in the market for installing, replacing and sealing additional water consumption meters in most of the Mārupes municipality.
Following the decision, MKP approached the authority to settle the dispute. On March 3, 2026, the parties concluded an administrative agreement under which the company accepted the infringement and agreed to pay a reduced fine.
Under the settlement, the original fine of €78,055.79 was reduced to €72,201.61. MKP committed to pay the penalty by September 1, 2026, and to implement employee training and awareness measures on competition law compliance within one year.
After the agreement was reached, Latvia’s Administrative Regional Court terminated the pending court proceedings related to the case.
The competition authority said such administrative agreements allow disputes to be resolved more quickly while ensuring compliance with competition rules. It also noted that parties harmed by competition law violations may still seek damages through civil proceedings.
Source: https://www.kp.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/izbeigts-tiesiskais-strids-ar-sia-marupes-komunalie-pakalpojumi
