Hungary to audit district heating companies

Hungary is to audit its district heating suppliers as its state-owned utility prepares to enter the market, according to a report published this week in the Budapest Business Journal.

The audits conducted by the utility, the First National Utilities Company (ENKSZ), will look at current market players’ operating models including ownership, financing, technology, regulatory issues and costs.

The office of the development minister, after a consultation with the Prime Minister’s office that is planned to take place by 31 January 2016, is to put together an action plan aimed at dealing with any problems the audit may find in the sector.

ENKSZ, which was launched in February and partners with state-owned natural gas company FŐGÁZ, entered the gas market in April and plans subsequent launches on the power and district heating markets. However, ENKSZ’s CEO Péter János Horváth said in April that there was “still much work to be done” before his company can start offering district heating services because of the “peculiarities” of the market.

Source: COSPP