Hungary broadens voluntary energy cuts amid heat wave

In late July 2026, Hungary’s food‑processing giant Bonafarm Group deepened its energy‑ and water‑saving programme, limiting electricity to cooling warehouses, postponing trial runs, suspending electric boilers and shifting high‑energy processes to night hours. Irrigation on its farms runs only outside peak periods, and the group stressed that food‑safety standards will be maintained.

Auchan Retail Hungary rolled out emergency measures across its store network, dimming non‑essential lighting, setting air‑conditioning to 27 °C, limiting refrigeration cycles and consolidating product groups. Other retailers, including Tesco, reduced store lighting and disabled beverage coolers, while MOL temporarily closed its car‑wash facilities.

On 1 August, Economy and Energy Minister István Kapitány announced that evening electricity demand fell 700 MW below forecast, to 5,700 MW, thanks to a nationwide appeal for households and businesses to curb consumption. Over 300 companies pledged a voluntary cut of about 400 MW, with another 270 firms expected to join, and state enterprises and local authorities also reduced usage.

The digital‑infrastructure firm 4iG Group introduced its own measures, halting on‑site work during peak hours, switching off central cooling, lighting and non‑essential equipment in offices, and cutting power at data‑centre sites and defence‑industry plants. These actions complement earlier corporate steps and follow Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s request after the Paks nuclear plant withdrew four reactors due to low Danube water levels, underscoring regional vulnerability to heat‑driven energy strain.