Legal background for employing an energy specialist

The requirements for employing an energy specialist and their tasks are defined by the following regulations:

• 2015 Act LVII on Energy Efficiency
• Government Decree 122/2015 (V.26.) on the implementation of the Act on Energy Efficiency.

Employing an energy specialist has been mandatory since December 21, 2016.

Who is it applicable to?

A company is required to employ an energy specialist if, in the preceding 3 years, its average annual energy consumption exceeds:

• 400,000 kWh of electricity,
• 100,000 m³ of natural gas, or
• 3,400 GJ of heat.

Obligations of those required to employ an energy specialist

Companies whose energy consumption exceeds the limits specified in the previous point must employ at least one energy specialist who is independent of them in terms of labor law and company law, regardless of whether they are small, medium-sized or large companies.

The economic operator using the energy expert must inform the Office within 30 days of the date of appointment of the energy expert and of any changes in the data provided.

Tasks of the Energy Specialist

The energy specialist’s task is to promote an energy efficiency mindset and energy-efficient behavioral patterns within the company required to employ them. This involves:

• Participating as a professional observer and advisor in conducting regular energy audits, as well as in the development and monitoring of the energy management system in accordance with the EN ISO 50001 standard;
• Providing suggestions on energy-efficient operational solutions and energy efficiency development opportunities;
• Reporting on the energy savings achieved through implemented energy efficiency improvements and operational solutions;
• Preparing a monthly report for the company required to employ them, detailing the company's energy consumption for the current month and evaluating it against previous consumption data, investments, improvements, and other circumstances;
• Compiling an annual summary report by May 15 of the following year based on the monthly reports, outlining the energy savings achieved through implemented energy efficiency improvements and operational solutions. This report must be published on the company's website by May 31;
• Handling tasks related to energy procurement, energy security, and energy efficiency that fall within their scope.

Businesses that are required to use an energy specialist have additional obligations. These are set out in Decree 1/2020. (I. 16.) MEKH, which stipulates the following:

3. (1) In order to monitor electricity consumption, identify unjustified consumption and identify energy saving opportunities, economic operators required to employ an energy specialist shall install sub-meters at the following electricity consumption points if electricity consumption cannot be determined on the basis of installed capacity and operating time:

a) stand-alone electrical equipment with a rated power of more than 50 kW (in particular compressors, motors, pumps, other drives and technological equipment),

b) heat generators and air conditioning equipment with a rated electrical power of more than 70 kW.

(2) Monitoring the electricity consumption of economic operators required to use an energy specialist, identify unjustified consumption and identify energy saving opportunities, shall install submeters, disregarding equipment whose consumption is already measured by submeters specified in this Decree, and shall measure the maximum simultaneous power demand of equipment supplied through a single supply point and connected in a technological line (in particular: machines, machine lines, production lines, factory halls or buildings) where the maximum simultaneous power demand exceeds 100 kW.

(3) Equipment whose operating time does not exceed 1,000 operating hours per year on average over the three years preceding the reference year is exempt from the sub-metering requirement set out in paragraph (1).