This week, both companies and citizens in Hungary have dramatically cut their electricity consumption in an unprecedented response to government appeals aimed at alleviating pressure on the power grid. This effort has surprised many, akin to the number of air conditioning units being turned off.
As Budapest braces for peak temperatures between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday, some residents along the Danube, which has reached historically low levels, noted the stark reality of climate change.
The river’s level has forced Hungary to largely shut down its sole nuclear power plant, which relies on the Danube for cooling, leading to an energy crisis that has severely strained supply, resulting in a sharp increase in imports.
“A Very Serious Wake-Up Call”
The facility, a cornerstone of the electricity network, could operate at just over 10% of capacity for weeks, depending on the river’s level.
“This is a sad and frightening situation, and a very serious warning to society that we need to be careful with our resources… It’s a very serious wake-up call,” said Krisztina Nemeth, a Budapest resident, as she looked over the Danube, wearing a straw hat for protection against the heat. Some individuals even stacked stones in the dry riverbed to mark this moment, according to reports.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar has repeatedly thanked companies and households for voluntarily reducing their electricity consumption by 600 to 700 megawatts (MW) daily during peak hours from 5 PM to 10 PM, noting on Facebook that even tougher days await.
Equivalent to Turning Off 1 Million Air Conditioners
“The heatwave will peak today and tomorrow… so voluntary reductions in electricity usage will be particularly important between 5 PM and 10 PM,” Magyar remarked.
An anonymous energy analyst reported that most of the energy savings have come from industrial users. Given that total energy demand currently exceeds 7,000 MW, cutting 600 MW is roughly equivalent to turning off 1 million medium-sized air conditioning units.
Magyar noted that 837 medium and large energy consumers made voluntary reductions, while the state railways suspended freight transport between 5 PM and 10 PM, saving an estimated 60 to 90 MW of electricity demand daily.
Authorities also reported that decorative lights on some famous landmarks in Budapest have been turned off as part of the energy-saving measures.
A Remarkable Effort by the Public
However, households have also contributed significantly, the Prime Minister emphasized.
“We try to use the air conditioning as little as possible at home. We only use the electrical appliances that are absolutely necessary. I believe everyone in Hungary should do the same,” stated Csongor Szabo, a Budapest resident.
The voluntary savings are particularly notable given that households benefit from heavily subsidized energy bills set by the previous government, which did not encourage reduced consumption. The European Union has called on Hungary to gradually phase out this system.
The new government under Magyar, which took office in May, has indicated that it will continue the subsidies and is committed to investing European funds in the electricity network.
Last month, the OECD warned that Hungary’s economic costs related to recurring floods and droughts are high and increasing.
“Climate scenarios indicate increasing agricultural losses and infrastructure disruptions. Hungary could be one of the European countries most affected by river floods and severe droughts in the future,” the report dated July 27 stated.
