Latvia’s Constitutional Court has initiated proceedings in a case concerning the termination of state metrological control — verification — of water consumption meters installed in apartments, the court reported.
The court will assess whether Cabinet of Ministers regulations approved on the 3rd of June, which define the list of measuring instruments subject to state metrological control, comply with the Constitution.
The contested provisions subject mechanical, electromagnetic, and ultrasonic water consumption meters to state metrological control, with the exception of those installed in apartments in multi-apartment residential buildings.
The applicant company operates in the replacement of water consumption meters in multi-apartment buildings and is also accredited as an inspection body for the repeated verification of water meters. Under the contested rules, water meters installed in apartments will no longer be subject to state metrological control.
Relying on the legal framework that had been in place for many years, the applicant made financial investments
in its business. In its view, the contested provisions infringe the constitutionally protected right to property and violate the principle of legitimate expectations, as the Cabinet of Ministers did not provide a reasonable transition to the new regulatory framework — such as a transitional period or compensation.
The applicant also argues that the government failed to properly assess the necessity of the contested provisions, did not sufficiently justify the public benefit, and did not consult the industry.
The court has invited the government to submit a written response outlining the factual circumstances and legal justification by February 2026. The case preparation period runs until May 2026. The court will decide on the form and date of the hearing after the preparation phase is completed.
As previously reported,
the government approved the abolition of mandatory water meter verification from the 1st of January, 2026.
The Ministry of Economics drafted amendments to Cabinet regulations adopted on the 14th of May, 2024 regarding measuring instruments subject to state metrological control. Under the amendments, apartment owners will no longer be required to carry out repeated verification of water consumption meters and may continue using existing meters without mandatory re-verification.
The Ministry of Economics has previously stated that the repeated verification of apartment water meters is not cost-effective and that abolishing the requirement will reduce administrative burden and expenses for residents.
Under the previous regulation, mechanical water meters were required to undergo repeated verification every four years, while electromagnetic and ultrasonic meters were verified every six years. Between 2020 and 2023, a total of 975,809 water meters were verified, costing residents €19.5 million — approximately €5 million per year.
In June, board member Vladislavs Eidimts of plumbing services provider OB serviss told the news agency LETA that
the decision to abolish water meter verification in residential buildings was taken without industry involvement
or professional discussion.
Eidimts called on the Ministry of Economics to review the decision, abandon a selective approach, and begin dialogue with the sector before advancing major changes affecting thousands of households. At the same time, he warned that if the decision is not revised, “the industry is ready to turn to the Constitutional Court.”
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The post Dispute over abolition of water meter verification reaches Latvia’s Constitutional Court appeared first on Baltic News Network.
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