Hungary’s electricity system faced significant pressure this week as an intense heatwave pushed power consumption to its highest summer level on record. Temperatures across the country reached unprecedented values, according to the reported observations. The transmission system operator MAVIR said demand rose to new highs during the period.
MAVIR reported that electricity demand peaked at 7,488 MW on Monday (29 June) evening, establishing a new summer record. The previous summer high of 7,036 MW, recorded on 16 July 2024, was surpassed. Demand stayed elevated on Tuesday, reaching 7,352 MW during a 15-minute interval around 19:00.
The 7,352 MW figure marked the second-highest summer load ever recorded. MAVIR also noted that Hungary’s all-time electricity demand record remains the winter peak of 8,182 MW, set on 13 January 2026. The operator said consumption is typically highest in winter, while prolonged heatwaves can occasionally lift summer demand close to or above winter peaks, as seen in 2015.
Heatwave temperatures set multiple records across Hungary
The increase 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. That value narrowly exceeded the previous all-time high of 41.9°C recorded in Kiskunhalas in July 2007.
Budapest also recorded its hottest day on record. The Lágymányos weather station measured 41°C, exceeding the city’s previous record of 40.7°C, which had stood since 2007. Extremely high temperatures persisted into nighttime hours.
Siófok recorded a minimum temperature of 26.9°C, described as the highest nighttime low ever registered in Hungary. The János-hegy station reported 26.6°C, setting a new overnight temperature record for Budapest.