Hungary’s electricity system faced significant pressure this week as an intense heatwave pushed consumption to the highest summer level on record. Temperatures across the country reached unprecedented values, according to the reported observations. The transmission system operator MAVIR said demand hit new highs during the period.
Peak electricity demand levels reported by MAVIR
MAVIR reported that electricity demand peaked at 7,488 MW on Monday (29 June) evening, establishing a new summer record. The previous summer high was 7,036 MW, recorded on 16 July 2024. Demand stayed elevated on Tuesday, reaching 7,352 MW during a 15-minute interval around 19:00.
The 7,352 MW figure represented the second-highest summer load ever recorded. Despite the extreme summer demand, Hungary’s all-time electricity demand record remains the winter peak of 8,182 MW, set on 13 January 2026. MAVIR also noted that electricity consumption is typically highest in winter, while prolonged heatwaves can occasionally bring summer demand close to or above winter peaks, as seen in 2015.
Heatwave temperatures set new records across Hungary
The rise 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. This value narrowly surpassed 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 even during nighttime hours.
Overnight temperature records in Siófok and Budapest
Siófok recorded a minimum temperature of 26.9°C, described as the highest nighttime low ever registered in Hungary. At the János-hegy station, temperatures reached 26.6°C, setting a new overnight temperature record for Budapest. These nighttime measurements were reported alongside the daytime extremes observed during the heatwave.
