RIGA, Feb 7 (LETA) - The interim administration of the eastern Latvian city of Rezekne has reversed its previous decision and will not turn off traffic lights ahead of the Baltic power grids' switchover from Russia to Europe, the interim administration's head Guna Puce told LETA.

She indicated that the Rezekne civil protection committee on Friday consulted with the Climate and Energy Ministry and specialists from Sadales Tikls power distribution system operator who reassured the committee that there are no grounds to turn off the traffic lights and cause inconveniences to people.

"The decision has been changed today and the traffic lights in Rezekne will not be turned off ahead of the synchronization," Puce said.

As reported, the civil defense committee in Rezekne had decided to turn off traffic lights in the city from 8 p.m. Friday, February 7, to 5 p.m. Sunday, February 8, to prevent any technological risks to the city's traffic light system.

Although all the authorities and services in charge of the power grid switchover have indicated that the process is unlikely to cause power cuts, Mayor Andrejs Elksnins' (Go, Latgale!) led city of Daugavpils is planning to turn off traffic lights this weekend.

Meanwhile, the municipal housing manager Jelgavas Nekustama Ipasuma Parvalde has placed notices outside apartment buildings in the central Latvian city of Jelgava urging people not to use lifts over the weekend.

As reported, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, risks to the Baltic energy system have also increased. To address them, the Baltic energy system will be disconnected from the Russian combined energy system, the so-called BRELL ring, and connected to the European system almost a year earlier than originally planned, on February 7-9 this year.

As the Climate and Energy Ministry said previously, February is the best month for switching from BRELL to the European energy network, as energy production in the region is higher during that month. The likelihood of especially adverse weather conditions is also lower in February.