Utilitas is renovating the district heating network

Utilitas will be building and reconstructing almost 30 km of heating pipework in seven cities all over Estonia outside of the heating season to make sure that customers’ homes will remain warm and continue to be supplied with hot water in the future. The construction works will be accompanied by temporary disruption in the heating service which the customers will be notified of in a good time.

‘Replacement of the heating pipework is necessary in order to ensure continued security of the heating and hot water supply for our customers,” explained Robert Kitt, head of Utilitas’ district heating companies. ‘Some of the pipework has depreciated and will be replaced with modern pre-insulated pipes to prevent potential break-downs and disruptions in the heating service. The latest customer satisfaction survey again showed that our customers value the convenience of the service and the security of supply highly and Utilitas will do everything in our power to continue to ensure the high level of our service.’

Some works on the pipework to be completed this year have already began, but the majority of the works will be undertaken in the summer and completed in autumn. ‘As those works are inevitably accompanied by temporary interruptions in the heating service, we will mostly be conducting the construction works in the off-season, as we cannot leave the people without heating in a cold season,’ said Robert Kitt.

The works will be conducted in the following cities: in Tallinn, Haapsalu, Keila, Valga, Jõgeva, Kärdla and Rapla. In total, Utilitas will be building almost 10 km of new pipework and reconstruct almost 20 km of pipework in 2021. ‘We will be building almost 30 km of pipework this year, which can be compared to the combined height of 2,000 five-storey residential buildings. Those works are extensive, but very important for the people supplied, and we will be doing our best to ensure that the renovation works will cause minimum disruptions to the living environment,’ explained Kitt.

Utilitas will invest a total of 30 million euros in pipework works this year, with the Environmental Investment Centre funding the works in the extent of almost 1.2 million.

The works will cause disruptions in the heating service for roughly 400 customers in the Tallinn area and for almost 230 customers in other cities. Utilitas will notify the managers of the building of the temporary interruptions in the service arising from the renovation works well in advance. The exact addresses affected by the disruptions will be published on the website of Utilitas one month in advance.

The construction and reconstruction works will involve the following areas in Tallinn: the streets of Väike-Õismäe, Ülemiste City, Uue-Maailma, Kitseküla, Vindi, Kreutzwaldi, Raua, Vene, Kassisaba, Saku, Pärnu mnt, Kohila, etc. The construction works in Haapsalu will involve: the streets of Mulla, Raudtee, Posti, Kastani; the works in Keila will involve: the streets of Pae, Allika, Põhja, Tuula tee, Rohelise, and Jaama; the works in Valga will involve: the streets of E. Enno, Allika, J. Kuperjanovi, Tähe, Sepa, and Uue; the works in Jõgeva will involve: the streets of Tähe, Puiestee, and Uue; the works in Rapla will involve: the streets of Metsapargi, Tutimäe tee, Mahlamäe, Välja, Veetorni, Piiri, Tallinna mnt, Kagu, Risti põik, and Linda; and the works in Kärdla will involve: the streets of Pae, Pae põik, and Rehemäe.

Renewable fuel-based district heating is the most environment-friendly solution for heating cities which also ensures the best security of supply. The solution is independent from imported fuel, is available at a considerably more stable price compared to the alternatives, and is very convenient and safe to use. Generation of district heating follows high environmental standards which makes the air in the cities where district heating is used considerably cleaner. Buildings with district heating are part of climate-friendly energy generation which helps to reduce emissions and achieve climate neutrality.