The entities responsible under the EKR include:

• Electricity traders
• Universal electricity suppliers
• Natural gas traders
• Universal gas suppliers
  Fuel vendors selling to end-users for transportation purposes

Obligation Levels

Obligated entities must achieve annual energy savings of 0.05%–0.35% of the energy sold to Hungarian end-users, based on previous years’ sales. The percentage requirement varies per year, as shown below:

Determining Energy Savings from Efficiency Measures

The obligated party must submit the necessary data to the Authority to calculate their annual energy savings obligation (per MEKH Decree 17/2020). Energy savings can be confirmed through an energy audit conducted by an accredited energy auditor or auditing organization.

Verification of Energy Savings

Az energiamegtakarítás megállapítása történhet energetikai auditor vagy energetikai auditáló szervezet által kiállított energetikai audit alapján (122/2015. (V. 26.) kormányrendelet)

Verification of Energy Savings

An authorized energy auditing organization conducts verification. The organization confirms that the obligated party has used the conversion factors, methods, and principles defined by the 122/2015 Government Decree to verify the investment or action’s additional contribution to energy savings for both the current and subsequent years.

Meeting the Obligation

The obligated party can fulfill the energy savings requirement through energy efficiency investments or improvement measures within or outside its industry. Verified energy savings achieved by other obligated entities, non-obligated energy efficiency service providers, or third parties also count towards fulfilling the obligation.

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries may include the obligated entity itself, its group members, clients, independent companies, or residential consumers. Supported by the obligated entity and external contributors, beneficiaries execute the project and achieve the savings. The auditor verifies the post-project savings.

EKR Project Flow and Monitoring

Monitoring Energy Efficiency Improvement Measures

The Authority reviews the reported energy savings measures to ensure accurate reporting. If a measure is found to be inaccurately reported, it is invalidated, and the certifying organization incurs a fine of 10,000 HUF per incorrectly validated 1 GJ energy saving. If the auditing organization is fined twice within two years, it is barred from certifying energy savings for five years.

Energy Efficiency Contribution

Instead of fully meeting the energy savings requirement, an obligated party may choose to pay an energy efficiency contribution.

Compliance Verification and Penalties

The Authority monitors compliance with both the energy savings and contribution requirements. Failure to meet the obligation results in a 70,000 HUF fine per unmet 1 GJ/year energy savings.

Monitoring Energy Efficiency Improvement Measures

The Authority reviews the reported energy savings measures to ensure accurate reporting. If a measure is found to be inaccurately reported, it is invalidated, and the certifying organization incurs a fine of 10,000 HUF per incorrectly validated 1 GJ energy saving. If the auditing organization is fined twice within two years, it is barred from certifying energy savings for five years.

Energy Efficiency Contribution

Instead of fully meeting the energy savings requirement, an obligated party may choose to pay an energy efficiency contribution.

Compliance Verification and Penalties

The Authority monitors compliance with both the energy savings and contribution requirements. Failure to meet the obligation results in a 70,000 HUF fine per unmet 1 GJ/year energy savings.