Energy Administration and Institutions, Funds and Programmes
Public administration
Ministry of National Development
The Ministry of National Development has taken over the tasks and responsibilities of the former Ministry of Transport, Telecommunication and Energy in July 2010.
A separate State Secretariat within the Ministry is dedicated for Climate and Energy. The work of the Secretary of State is supported by two deputies; one is responsible for “traditional” energy sources and the other one for green-economy development and climate. An additional State Secretariat is dealing with transportation issues within the Ministry.
Under the supervision of the Minister the State Secretary of Climate and Energy is responsible for the development of a long-term energy strategy, a renewable energy strategy, a strategy of climate policy, a strategy of biofuel and other renewable fuel for transport. The strategies must also be supported by action plans, policy making procedures and legislation. The Secretary is also entitled to establish programs for energy efficiency improvement of buildings and is responsible to ensure sustainable economic development.
Ministry of Rural Development
The former Ministry of Environment and Water and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were merged in July 2010 and the Ministry of Rural Development was founded, overtaking all the responsibilities and tasks of the two previous main public authorities.
At present, the Ministry is a central governing body for environment and nature protection, water affairs, agriculture, rural development, game management and fisheries, the food sector, forest management and forest conservation.
The Ministry’s responsibilities include policy development, tasks connected to governmental work, and associated research and development. The Minister has to cooperate with the Minister of National Development regarding climate protection policy-development.
National Development Agency
The government set up the National Development Agency by merging the National Development Office and authorities managing the implementation of the National Development Plan, in order to support the efficient use of European Union funding. A fund of EUR 22.4 billion (around HUF 1000 billion )is going to be invested in developing the country and closing the development gap during 2007-2013. It is the agency responsible for the implementation of the New Hungary Development Plan, which was approved by the European Commission in May 2007. It acts as the Managing Authority in the Operational Programmes. One of the OP’s is focusing directly on renewable energy, energy efficiency and other environmental related tenders, called the Environment and Energy Operational Programme.
Hungarian Energy Office
The Hungarian Energy Office (MEH) was created by the Electricity Act and Law on Gas in 1994. It is a national public administration body with independent powers and competence, acting under Government control and under the supervision of the Ministry of National Development. It is the government agency in charge of the regulation of the electricity and gas sectors. The MEH also cooperates in legal framework development related to the energy sector.
Hungarian Competition Authority
The Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal – GVH) was established by the Act LXXXVI of 1990 on the prohibition of unfair market practices, and started its operation on 1 January 1991. The enactment of the prohibition of anticompetitive behavior and the setting up of the authority was motivated by the will of protecting the freedom and fairness of competition. The GVH is a state administrative authority, which is independent of the Government and reports only to Parliament.
After Hungary's accession to the European Union in 2004, the GVH became a member of the European Competition Network that consists of the national competition authorities of the EU Member States and the DG Competition of the European Commission.
Hungarian Transmission Operator (MAVIR)
By acting as license holder of transmission system operation, MAVIR’s mission is to operate the Hungarian Power System, in compliance with the principles laid down in relevant regulations on electricity supply and to execute also the development, reconstruction, maintenance and operational tasks needed to meet the technical requirements of the Hungarian electricity transmission network, thereby serving the safe availability of network on the long run and the interests of security of supply.
Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA)
The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority was established in January 1991. Hungary`s national policy concerning the application of atomic energy is regulated by law. The basic purposes of Act CXVI of 1996 are those of protecting health and safety of the population and protecting the environment. Establishing the regulatory duties in connection with the safety of peaceful application of nuclear energy, particularly with the safety of nuclear materials and facilities under normal and accidental conditions and with nuclear emergencies is a basic task of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. It is an independent body supervised by the minister of the Ministry of National Development (currently Mr. Tamas Fellegi) appointed by the prime minister.
Main responsibilities of HAEA
Regulatory role of HAEA
• Regulation, licensing, inspection and enforcement of nuclear safety
• Safeguards accountancy for and control of nuclear materials
• Registration of radioactive materials and approval of their transport and packaging
Other responsibilities
• Support of policy making with regard to nuclear safety
• International relations with IAEA and other international organisations, bilateral relations
• Research & Development related to nuclear safety
• Fulfillment of requirements of international conventions in the nuclear field
• Nuclear emergency preparedness, source term assessment, notification
• Public information
Atomic Energy Co-ordination Council (AECC)
The Parliament modified the Atomic Act of 1996 in August 2003 and established the Atomic Energy Co-ordination Council. . It is a body created by the Government for the field of peaceful use of atomic energy. It shall coordinate and harmonize the activities of ministries and central administrative organizations in the field of safe use of nuclear energy, nuclear safety and radiation protection. The chairmanof the Council is the Director General of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. The members of the HAEC are ministers and central public administration organizations performing regulatory tasks.
Energy related organisations
National Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water
The founding and supervisory body of the National Inspectorate is the Ministry for Rural Development (previously the Ministry for Environment and Water). The 10 regional inspectorates for environment, nature and water and 2 sub-offices are the 'green authorities', while their supervisory National Inspectorate works mainly as the main authority in the above mentioned issues.
The "Energy Centre" - Energy Efficiency, Environment and Energy Information Agency
The Energy Efficiency, Environment and Energy Information Agency is the legal successor to the Energy Centre (formerly the EU-Hungarian Energy Centre) and the Energy Information Agency. The non-profit limited company is owned by the Ministry of National Development.
The Energy Centre manages most of the statistical issues related to energy, manages subsidies and loans for energy efficiency and renewables, and prepares documents for the government concerning energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, and carries out the energy agency activities. The staff of the Centre was considerably increased since 2002 (20 staff members) and amounts to 70 staff members in 2011. Main sources of financing are separated budget lines of the founder and operational costs of projects along with other market activities.
Main tasks of the Energy Centre:
• Management of national tenders
• Management of the Energy Saving Credit Fund (German Coal Aid Revolving Fund)
• Management of EU funded tenders as Intermediate body
• Energy statistics
• Involvement in international projects
• National Energy Agency activities: promotion, campaigns, know-how transfer, technical assistance, knowledge base, policy development for the Ministry of National Development
National Council for Sustainable Development
The National Council for Sustainable Development was created by the Hungarian Parliament as a conciliatory, consultative and advisory organ for issues in the field of sustainable development. As it is set by the Parliamentary Resolution 57/2008, the Chairperson of the Council is always the current Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament. The Council has four Co-Chairs, delegated by the Government, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the MP Groups of the Opposition Parties in the Parliament, and civil society organizations. The Council created working groups to provide professional background for the activities, such as Scientific Working group, Energy and Climate Working group, Rural Development and Agriculture Working group, Water policy Working group, Public society Working group, Healthcare Working group. A special task of the Council was to prepare a Sustainability Report about Hungary’s status, which was published in November 2009.
Hungarian Association of Renewable Energy Resources
The association represents all actors within the renewable energy sector and takes an active part in the control of the policy making processes. Established in 2005, it has been actively involved in the development of the Hungarian renewable energy sector.
Hungarian Biomass Association
The Hungarian Biomass Association (HBA) is a nonprofit organisation supporting the dissemination of biomass technologies.
Federation of Technical and Scientific Societies (MTESZ)
MTESZ (established in 1948) is an organisation with a nationwide network of 40 "scientific associations" of engineers and scientists. It operates Houses of Science and Technology in every county centre and larger city. The activities of the "scientific associations" cover two major areas: (i) non-profit oriented activities, e.g. energy efficiency advice and (ii) profit oriented activities, such as conference organisation, commercial advisory services and education.
Energy Management Association (ETE)
ETE is a member of MTESZ coordinates the scientific work of domestic energy producers, utility, energy consumers, and the related universities and institutions. They regularly discuss strategic energy related issues, prepare national comprehensive analysis, represent Hungary on scientific events nationally and internationally, organize round table discussions and conferences. They issue a monthly paper called “Energy Management”.
Energia Klub
Energia Klub is a well known non-profit organisation in Hungary working on energy and environment related policy and awareness raising since 1990. They conduct research and analysis; prepare background studies for possible policy options as well as market research. Beside these, they also facilitate projects, monitor policy implementation, organize trainings, and run communication and education projects.
HUPX: Hungarian power exchange
The mission of HUPX Ltd. is to carry out the obligatory task assigned to MAVIR Ltd. (as Transmission System Operator) by the Hungarian Energy Office requiring the formation and operation of the organized electricity market in Hungary. They established the first organized electricity market in Hungary in an efficient, transparent way. They provide price information to the market players in order to achieve competitive power trading.
