Gergely Gulyás, the prime minister's chief of staff, said Hungary's government has declared a state of energy emergency and has approved measures that will include limiting the caps on household gas and electricity bills to average consumption levels from Aug 1.
Gulyás said the protracted war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia by Brussels have led to a dramatic increase in energy prices across Europe, causing an energy crisis in a large part of the continent. It has also become clear in the recent months that as things stand, Europe will most likely not have enough gas for the autumn and winter heating season, he said. Therefore, in the interest of protecting Hungarian families and the economy’s energy supply, the government has followed the example of several other European countries and has declared a state of energy emergency, Gulyás said. It has also approved several measures that will enter into effect in August, he added. Gulyás said the measures would ensure that the country has enough energy in the winter and that the scheme to cap utility bills can remain in place.
Szilárd Németh, the government commissioner in charge of the utility price cap scheme, said large families will continue pay the reduced gas prices, but a consumption limit for their caps will remain in place.
Photo credit: MTI