In the first six months of this year, consumption of natural gas in Hungary was down 18.2 percent than in the same period last year. By the end of June 2023, less than 4.7 billion cubic metres of gas had been consumed, compared to 5.7 billion cubic metres in the first six months of 2022. Almost two-thirds of the savings of around one billion cubic metres were made by the business sector and one-third by households.
Domestic gas consumption fell by 17 percent last year, owing to the mild weather, but only accounting for a small part of the savings. Adjusted for temperature differences, gas consumption was about 15 percent lower last year. In the heating season between October and April, about a quarter less natural gas was consumed than a year earlier.
Hungary currently has 4.6 billion metres of gas in domestic storage, around 46 percent of annual consumption. This storage level was almost double the EU average and is one of the best in Europe.
Electricity consumption between January and June this year was 8.4 percent lower than in the same period last year. Compared to the same period last year, the I quarter recorded a decrease of 7.1 percent and the II quarter of 8.6 percent.