Vilnius will switch on central heating across the city starting Tuesday, about two weeks earlier than last year, Mayor Valdas Benkunskas announced Monday.
“The next few weeks will be cool, especially at night. We see no reason to delay,” Benkunskas told reporters.
He noted that heating prices this season will be “record low”, with the October rate set at 5.42 cents per kilowatt-hour — about 7% lower than in October 2024.
Gerimantas Bakanas, head of the city’s heating supplier Miesto Gijos (formerly Vilniaus šilumos tinklai), said prices largely depend on fuel costs, especially biomass. Current forecasts suggest stability through the winter.
“We don’t see trends indicating biomass prices will rise. The same goes for gas futures – no major shocks are expected. Global market conditions also point toward stable prices,” Bakanas said.
However, he warned that rates could climb in January, when the value-added tax on district heating is scheduled to return to the standard 21% from the current 9%. “That could affect the price, but that’s a national political decision,” he said.
This season, about 83% of Vilnius’ district heating is expected to come from biomass and 17% from natural gas. Last year, biomass accounted for 87%. The ratio could shift depending on the severity of winter temperatures, Bakanas said.
The capital began centralised heating last year on October 14. This year, the earlier start was prompted by weather forecasts showing daytime highs dropping and nighttime temperatures hovering near freezing.
According to the municipality, 145 of the city’s 256 schools and childcare facilities had already requested heating since Thursday.
“From Friday, all our educational and health care institutions were able to turn on heating if needed, and most have done so. Kindergartens, schools and medical centres are already being heated,” Benkunskas said.
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