Electricity prices across much of Southeast Europe rose sharply on 13 August 2026, with stronger regional demand and pronounced evening scarcity offsetting higher renewable generation. Day-ahead baseload prices increased across multiple markets, with several countries trading within a tight band around the mid-€160s per megawatt-hour.
In Hungary, the day-ahead baseload price climbed by €18.80/MWh to €163.69/MWh. Romania followed at €163.54/MWh, leaving a spread of just €0.15/MWh. Slovenia and Croatia also traded near those levels, reaching €165.65/MWh and €164.83/MWh, respectively.
Serbia posted the largest daily increase in the region, with the SEEPEX price up by €43.60/MWh to €157.20/MWh. Bulgaria advanced by €12.70/MWh to €138.29/MWh. Germany and Austria reached €147.07/MWh and €161.55/MWh, respectively.
Italy remained the most expensive market in the report, with its national price rising to €183.80/MWh. That level represented a premium of €20.11/MWh over Hungary’s day-ahead baseload price.
Southern markets see declines while Italy stays highest
Greece moved lower compared with the rest of the region, recording an €8.70/MWh decline to €95.81/MWh. The discount versus Hungary widened to €67.89/MWh. North Macedonia fell to €128.53/MWh, while Albania dropped to €146.65/MWh.
Montenegro was broadly stable at €141.97/MWh. With Italy at €183.80/MWh, the range between the highest and lowest national outcomes in the report reflected a split between northern and southern pricing levels.
Hungary shows wide intraday swings tied to solar hours
The Hungarian market recorded a particularly wide intraday range on the day. The HUPX price fell to a low of €83.50/MWh at hour 14, when solar generation was strongest, before rising to a high of €338.90/MWh at hour 21.
The difference between those points produced a daily spread of €255.40/MWh. Hungary’s peak-period average was €140.80/MWh, while off-peak averaged €186.60/MWh. The figures were linked to expensive evening hours following stronger solar output earlier in the day.
The peak level at €338.90/MWh occurred simultaneously in Germany, Romania and Slovenia, indicating coordinated price formation across coupled markets after solar output declined.
Demand and renewable forecasts rise alongside higher prices
Total forecast electricity consumption across Hungary and Southeast Europe increased by 563 MW, reaching an average of 33,186 MW, despite cooler regional temperatures. Romania and Bulgaria accounted for most of the increase, with combined demand up by 592 MW.