In the first half of 2021, improvements have been noted both in the construction and energy policy that are under supervision of the State Construction Control Bureau (SCCB). The number of non-compliance cases identified declines, while the level of responsibility of the owners of buildings and merchants involved in the energy field gradually increases.
“Significant work has been done to ensure implementation of the functions assigned to the Bureau, and now we can see the first results of this year’s work that underlies them. Great emphasis has been placed on methodological support, consultations, and preventive measures, while ensuring a fast response to cases of non-compliance. We keep on working actively on the information systems managed by the Bureau improving and developing them, thus providing user-friendly and necessary services to our clients,” explains Svetlana Mjakuškina, Director of the SCCB.
Mandatory procurement of electricity
Since the beginning of 2020, the SCCB has been responsible not only for construction but also for administration of the energy policy. One of its subfields is supervision and control of the mechanism of mandatory procurement (MP) of electricity. After one year and a half after taking over this field, impressive results can be seen – merchants comply with the requirements laid down for the access to aid more often, and the level of self-consumption of electricity of power plants declared by merchants themselves has increased. In carrying out supervision and control activities, the Bureau has deprived 16 power plants of the MP rights in the first half of this year, thus the number of aid recipients keeps falling which in turn will reduce the total support payments within the framework of the MP of electricity.
Energy efficiency
It falls within the competence of the SCCB to administer energy efficiency issues. Requirements of the Energy Efficiency Law apply to large enterprises (LEs), large electricity consumers (LECs), State cities and municipality governments, energy retailers etc. The Law stipulates that LEs and LECs shall perform an energy audit of companies or maintain a certified energy management system or certified supplemented environmental management system. In 2021, a total of 65 merchants has been put on the list of LEs and LECs for the first time. These merchants must comply with the requirements of the Law within a year.
In 2020, energy documents expired for more than100 merchants. Pursuant to the Law on the Suppression of Consequences of the Spread of COVID-19 Infection, the time period for the submission of energy documents was extended until 30 June 2021. Majority of the merchants took this opportunity. As regards two large enterprises, a decision has been taken to achieve compliance with the requirements of the Law within six months. In comparison with the last year, the number of merchants failing to comply with the requirements of the Law and consequently subject to the energy efficiency duty has fallen three times.
In 2021, the SCCB commenced carrying out in-depth on-site inspections in order to control merchants and local governments. The inspections aim to examine the energy efficiency improvement measures introduced and the energy savings achieved. In the first six months of this year, 19 in-depth on-site inspections have been carried out. No discrepancies have been established in any of them.
Surveillance of petroleum products market
In order to ensure provision of the service of State emergency stocks of oil, the SCCB entered into contracts with eight merchants for the establishment of the State emergency stocks of oil at the end of 2020. The total amount of stocks accounts for 353 thousand tonnes, including 34 % of petrol fuel and 66 % of diesel fuel. 63 % of the total amount are stored in Latvia.
During the reporting period, the SCCB has conducted 10 volume and 2 quality checks inspecting merchants that provide storage services in respect of the State emergency stocks of oil in the territory of Latvia. No discrepancies have been detected.
In the first six months of this year, the SCCB has taken 141 fuel samples from 53 service stations owned by 18 merchants within the framework of the fuel quality monitoring. One non-compliance case of 95 petrol fuel has been detected.
Construction and operation of buildings
The number of non-compliance cases identified during control of construction work decreases: last year, there were 40 % of cases but this year – 30 %. Results of the measurements taken in inspections are also positive – although the number of measurements increases, no discrepancies have been established.
Overall, the SCCB supervises approximately 8,000 public buildings accepted for operation out of which 17 % have been subject to technical survey. Analysis of the opinions prepared in the context of first-time control of the operation of buildings shows that in 49 % of cases the owners of buildings have still failed to carry out a periodic technical survey of building, although the majority of them had to do it before 30 September 2019. This indicator was similar also in the year before.
Certification of construction specialists
Six applications for obtaining a certificate in the construction expert-examination, including five in expert-examination of building designs and one in expert-examination of structures, have been receive before the end of June of this year. After assessing their competence two experts were certified in expert-examination of building designs and one – in expert-examination of structures.
As a result of examination of complaints the SCCB has taken a decision in respect of possible infringements of professional activity of seven construction specialists. In six cases no infringements were established, but one certificate was suspended. Eight complaints have been received about possible infringements of professional activity of 13 construction specialists which were forwarded to other authorities for examination according to their competence, and also information regarding four negative expert-examinations.
Building Information System
The number of persons using the Building Information System (BIS) has reached 75,633 users in the first half of the year. Most of them or 70,995 users have used the public portal. In order to promote the BIS literacy, 4,731 users have received training in the first six months of the year. In June, the Bureau held a discussion with the sector in order to define future developments of the BIS.
Important improvements have been introduced in the functionality of the System – a “house file” has been created, retrieval of entries of a construction work logbook has been developed, and improvements have been carried out in respect of receiving coordination and sending notifications of changes made to the building authority. The Register of Independent Experts in Energy Performance of Buildings and the Register of Building Inspectors have been improved.
Analysis of the use of e-services available on the BIS allows to conclude that the issue of powers of attorney is still the most popular service. Problems are encountered in using e-services which require a secure electronic signature of the applicant – they are often left uncompleted. Hence a possibility will be sought to sign these applications also with an e-mobile signature or System signature.
Energy information systems
Considerable work has been done in the development of energy information systems. Important additions have been made to the Information System for the Monitoring of Mandatory Procurement of Electricity (ENER) ensuring that it is easier for merchants to submit their annual reports, and also ensuring automatic analysis of the reports submitted.
Requirements for the new Energy Resources Information System (ERIS) have been defined at the end of 2020. Development of the 1st phase of the ERIS is being completed at the moment moving towards administration of energy efficiency issues only in digital format. It is also intended to integrate functionality of the Petroleum Product Information System (NAPRO) into the ERIS, thus creating broader functionality of the supervision and control of petroleum products and ensuring that it becomes digital.
Starting from 1 September this year, the Protected User Data Information System (ALDIS) will become fully operation. The system will reduce administrative costs, ensure more flexible provision of the service to more than 150,000 people, and also enable to perform precise control of the State budget funds.
Proceedings
In the first half of 2021, the SCCB has been a party in 33 proceedings out of which 30 were administrative cases and 3 were criminal proceedings. Most of the proceedings were related to the mandatory procurement component of electricity.
The State Police and Public Prosecutor’s Office have 10 criminal proceedings in the investigation phase, while 3 criminal proceedings have already been referred to a court in relation to alleged defrauding of the mandatory procurement component.
