Hungarians’ heating bills would quadruple and electricity bills double if Russian energy ruled out, PM says

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview with public radio on Friday that Hungarians’ heating bills would quadruple and electricity bills double if the Ukrainians’ plan to prevent European Union member states from buying Russian energy pans out.

PM Orbán said it would cost Hungary an additional HUF 800bn a year if the country had to replace its energy from Russia with other sources. He added that the amount was equivalent to the annual government support for the regulated utilities price scheme for households.

PM Orbán said the majority of EU member states had adopted energy policies that made hurting Russia, and thus helping Ukraine, a priority, rather than supporting their own countries’ families and businesses.

Hungary is opposed to that position and is clashing with the member states that take it, PM Orbán said. He added that the government would not allow sanctions on Russian energy to be extended to Hungary.

PM Orbán said the Ukrainians were behind the policies to raise energy prices, adding that it wasn’t unreasonable to speak about “Ukrainian energy threats”.