Hungary’s electricity system came under significant pressure this week as an intense heatwave drove power consumption to its highest summer level on record, while temperatures across the country reached unprecedented values.
The transmission system operator MAVIR reported that electricity demand peaked at 7,488 MW on Monday (29 June) evening, setting a new summer record. The previous high of 7,036 MW, recorded on 16 July 2024, was clearly surpassed. Demand remained elevated the following day, reaching 7,352 MW during a 15-minute interval around 19:00, marking the second-highest summer load ever recorded. Despite these extreme summer levels, Hungary’s all-time electricity demand record remains the winter peak of 8,182 MW, set on 13 January 2026. MAVIR noted that electricity consumption is typically highest in winter, although prolonged heatwaves can occasionally push summer demand close to or even above winter peaks, as also observed in 2015.
The surge in electricity demand coincided with record-breaking temperatures across Hungary. On 30 June, temperatures reached 42°C in Szécsény, setting a new national heat record and narrowly surpassing the previous all-time high of 41.9°C recorded in Kiskunhalas in July 2007.
The capital also experienced its hottest day on record. The Lágymányos weather station measured 41°C, exceeding Budapest’s previous record of 40.7°C, which had stood since 2007. Extremely high temperatures persisted even during nighttime hours. Siófok recorded a minimum temperature of 26.9°C, the highest nighttime low ever registered in Hungary, while the János-hegy station reported 26.6°C, setting a new overnight temperature record for Budapest.