Amendment to the Hungarian electricity crisis regulations

A new Government decree issued in July 2026 substantially revised the Hungarian framework for managing major disturbances and electricity supply crises. A key conceptual change is the introduction of “remaining capacity”, which replaces the former percentage-based reserve approach. Crisis levels are now determined on a more dynamic basis, taking into account available generation and imports after domestic demand and positive reserve requirements are covered. The revised thresholds also consider gas-market restrictions, the scale and duration of network outages, separation from the synchronous area and repeated significant disturbances.

The amendment gives special attention to large consumers with at least 0.5 MW of contracted capacity. In threatening situations or at the first two warning levels, MAVIR (the Hungarian transmission system operator) may recommend a temporary reduction of electricity consumption, which the consumer is expected to follow to the extent reasonably possible. In more serious situations, MAVIR may issue a binding load-reduction instruction. The consumer must comply down to the minimum level required to avoid equipment damage. Failure to comply may result in a reimbursement claim calculated from the excess electricity consumed and 200% of the relevant HUPX day-ahead quarter-hourly market price. The large consumer and its balance responsible party are jointly and severally liable, and persistent non-compliance may ultimately lead to disconnection for the duration of the crisis. No compensation is due for financial losses resulting from compliant load reduction.

The decree also significantly limits MAVIR’s liability for damages. MAVIR is generally not liable to system users for losses connected with the occurrence of a crisis. For certain other crisis-management-related losses, total liability per crisis event is capped at 10% of the annual tariff revenue determined by the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH). Claims must be enforced within a one-year forfeiture period.

Institutional crisis management is strengthened through the restructured Crisis Working Committee. It is chaired by MAVIR’s CEO, co-chaired by the minister responsible for energy policy, and includes representatives from key electricity and gas-market actors. Its responsibilities now also include national crisis-coordination tasks under EU Regulation 2019/941, except for near-real-time operational interventions, which remain under MAVIR’s direct control. The reform is also expected to require a substantial revision of the MAVIR Crisis Plan, since the new multi-dimensional crisis thresholds and procedures fundamentally change the technical, operational and procedural framework on which the existing plan is based.