Drop in Gas Consumption during Heating Season Even without Restrictive Measures

There was no need for gas restrictions at either the state or municipal levels last winter, the Communications Department of the Ministry of Energy announced on Sunday, as the official heating season ended in mid-April. According to the information, gas consumption was down by more than a quarter of a billion cubic meters, or 4.3 percent, compared to the previous heating season.

The ministry also stressed that security of supply was never in jeopardy, thanks to adequate preparation and the high level of gas storage. The consumption of natural gas in the last heating season was 259.4 million cubic meters lower than in the previous heating season, according to a summary of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) based on data provided by the MVM Group (Hungarian power company). They added that residential consumption fell by 4.6 percent and that of the economy by 4.1 percent between mid-October 2023, and mid-April 2024. This is a significant result, especially given the low base: in the 2022/2023 heating season, two billion cubic meters less gas was consumed than a year earlier, or almost a quarter less.

They also pointed out that the further reduction was achieved without the need for extraordinary measures in a more favorable security of supply situation.

The government did not maintain the 18°C temperature limit in public institutions, and municipalities were not forced to temporarily close swimming pools, libraries, or museums. The information also showed that while consumption increased somewhat in the first half of the heating season, mild weather in the second three months also contributed to savings. As an example, the “summer days” of the first two weeks of April saw a sharp drop in household gas consumption of 70 percent compared to the same period last year.

The role of electricity in the energy mix is gradually increasing, they said. This was also indicated by the slight increase in electricity consumption of 1.3 percent in the last heating season. A similar increase is also visible in the first quarter of this year, they added. They noted that natural gas, on the other hand, showed a decline from January to March, with a 100 million cubic meters lower demand representing a 3.2 percent drop.

Hungary has exceeded EU expectations for two consecutive periods in cutting gas consumption,

they said, adding that Member States had to use 15 percent less gas than the average of the previous five years. Hungary also achieved savings of 20 percent above the mandatory level after last year until April this year, they stressed. They said that as the economy recovers, energy demand in businesses could increase, but most of the consumption cuts achieved could be maintained in the longer term.

The Energy Ministry also pointed out that

Hungarian families continue to pay the lowest electricity and gas prices in Europe thanks to the cuts in the utility bills.

They added that the government is also helping households to reduce their energy consumption in times of war in a number of ways. As an example, the Solar Energy Plus Program supports the installation of modern solar systems capable of producing and storing green energy, thus strengthening self-sufficiency. The Home Renovation Program, starting this June, will help beneficiaries to keep their consumption below the utility protection band by upgrading the energy efficiency of family houses built before 1990, the statement concluded.

Via MTI, Featured image: Pixabay