8 THE ENERGY CHALLENGE IN HUNGARY …
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technologies (Eurostat 2018; Jensen et al. 2018). The use of district heating and other joint/community solutions are hindered by negative social
attitudes towards public or joint ownership schemes (Jensen et al. 2018).
A considerable share of society (around 35%) live under the ‘subsistence’ levels and 21% live in fuel poverty (Fülöp and Lehoczki-Krsjak
2014). 27% of homes have inadequate walls and roofs, and 9% of the
population are unable to keep their homes warm (Eurostat in HBS–FoE
Hungary 2018). Within the European Union, Hungary has one of the
highest rates of housing deprivation (Eurostat 2018). Thus, the affordability of energy is a major issue and the popular policy of the government
is to regulate the price of energy.
As for the use of energy, the level of consciousness is low. The majority of the households do not follow their energy consumption data and
the household appliances stock is inefficient on a large scale (Slezák
et al. 2015). on the other hand, in a survey the Hungarian population
expressed willingness and interest in energy-efficient home improvements (Fülöp and Kun 2014), but, on the whole, households lack the
financial resources to act on this interest.
energy poLiCy in hungary
The most important goals of Hungarian energy policy (MND 2012) are
the provision of affordable energy, long-term sustainability, supply security and economic competitiveness. Special emphasis is placed on tackling
the energy dependency of the country by means of: (i) energy savings;
(ii) increasing the share of renewable energy sources; (iii) safe nuclear
energy and the electrification of transport based on this; (iv) creating a
bipolar agriculture (food production and energy-geared biomass production); and (v) better integration to the European energy infrastructures
(Jensen et al. 2018).
A characteristic feature of recent energy policy is the pivotal role
of the government. In this context, important measures were taken
by the government such as setting up a 100% state-owned National
Public Utility Company (next to the private utility companies operating in the country) to ensure the security of energy supply. It is an
explicit policy of the government to keep energy prices low. Related
measures have included the appointment of a governmental commissioner and the regulation of utility prices for the household sector
(Jensen et al. 2018).
85
technologies (Eurostat 2018; Jensen et al. 2018). The use of district heating and other joint/community solutions are hindered by negative social
attitudes towards public or joint ownership schemes (Jensen et al. 2018).
A considerable share of society (around 35%) live under the ‘subsistence’ levels and 21% live in fuel poverty (Fülöp and Lehoczki-Krsjak
2014). 27% of homes have inadequate walls and roofs, and 9% of the
population are unable to keep their homes warm (Eurostat in HBS–FoE
Hungary 2018). Within the European Union, Hungary has one of the
highest rates of housing deprivation (Eurostat 2018). Thus, the affordability of energy is a major issue and the popular policy of the government
is to regulate the price of energy.
As for the use of energy, the level of consciousness is low. The majority of the households do not follow their energy consumption data and
the household appliances stock is inefficient on a large scale (Slezák
et al. 2015). on the other hand, in a survey the Hungarian population
expressed willingness and interest in energy-efficient home improvements (Fülöp and Kun 2014), but, on the whole, households lack the
financial resources to act on this interest.
energy poLiCy in hungary
The most important goals of Hungarian energy policy (MND 2012) are
the provision of affordable energy, long-term sustainability, supply security and economic competitiveness. Special emphasis is placed on tackling
the energy dependency of the country by means of: (i) energy savings;
(ii) increasing the share of renewable energy sources; (iii) safe nuclear
energy and the electrification of transport based on this; (iv) creating a
bipolar agriculture (food production and energy-geared biomass production); and (v) better integration to the European energy infrastructures
(Jensen et al. 2018).
A characteristic feature of recent energy policy is the pivotal role
of the government. In this context, important measures were taken
by the government such as setting up a 100% state-owned National
Public Utility Company (next to the private utility companies operating in the country) to ensure the security of energy supply. It is an
explicit policy of the government to keep energy prices low. Related
measures have included the appointment of a governmental commissioner and the regulation of utility prices for the household sector
(Jensen et al. 2018).