The Ministry of Energy (EM) will ensure the continuation of reduced utility prices in the last quarter of this year by amending the relevant regulations, the ministry announced on Thursday. Thanks to the price reduction policy, Hungarian families enjoy the cheapest gas in Europe, the EM stressed in their press release.
They highlighted that the updates to the relevant regulatory provisions will preserve these unique but well-established measures during the upcoming heating season. ‘Brussels and the left continue to attack the price reduction policy, demanding its abolition,’ the statement reminded. The draft decree, submitted for public consultation, sets the price and quantity of gas offered to universal service providers for purchase for the fourth quarter of 2024. It also clarifies the framework rules for determining the official prices associated with the universal gas service.
‘End-user prices for households will remain unchanged in the last quarter of 2024’
As a result of these changes, end-user prices for households will remain unchanged, enabling the continued implementation of the price reduction policy from October, the statement emphasized. They stressed that the protection of household expenses is effective: in nine out of ten consumption points, gas usage remains below the average level. Even households exceeding the average consumption threshold can keep their homes warm at the reduced price within the so-called protected usage band.
Thanks to the price reduction policy, Hungarian families experience far fewer heating difficulties compared to other Europeans. The Hungarian government remains committed to maintaining the general support for utilities, despite the ongoing attacks from Brussels and the left, the ministry stated. In addition to low prices, Hungarian families can expect an uninterrupted supply throughout the upcoming winter. By early autumn, domestic storage facilities already held more gas than the total consumed during the last heating season.
Another draft decree, also submitted for public consultation, aims to reduce administrative burdens. In the future, the Hungarian Hydrocarbon Stockpiling Association or its intermediary will only need to prepare an annual report on the quality of motor fuels, rather than the current quarterly requirement.
From 1 October those living in district-heated housing will continue to pay the same fees that have remained unchanged for ten years. Meanwhile, following two reductions last year, the Ministry of Energy could once again significantly reduce district heating charges for state and municipal institutions in the new year, according to the ministry’s statement.
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