Hungarian Electricity Providers: Who to Call and When

If you’re confused about Hungarian electricity providers, you’re not alone. Navigating utilities in Hungary can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark—blindfolded, with someone shouting contradictory instructions from another room. Especially when it comes to your electricity service.

Most newcomers—and frankly, quite a few long-timers—have no idea there are two different companies involved in supplying electricity. Yes, two. And yes, you need both.

This post will help you figure out:

• Who to contact for what

• Why you have two electricity contracts

• Which company is your regional distributor

• And how to avoid hours of wasted phone calls.

Why You Have Two Electricity Companies

In Hungary, electricity service is split between:

1. The universal electricity provider (egyetemes szolgáltató) – this is the one who sells you electricity.
2. The electricity distribution network operator (elosztói társaság) – this is the one who maintains the cables, meters, and poles.

Whether you’re a tenant in downtown Budapest or the proud new owner of a winehouse in Zala, you’ll have a contract with MVM Next Energiakereskedelmi Zrt. (the universal provider) and a separate one with your regional distributor (based on your address).

This two-tiered system is standard across the country and applies to all Hungarian electricity providers.

When to Contact MVM Next (The National Provider)

MVM Next handles contractual and billing matters. If you’re dealing with:

• Starting or ending your electricity contract

• Changing the name on the account

• Paying a bill (or settling a debt)

• Meter readings or submitting your monthly usage

• Updating personal details or payment method

• Requesting a reconnection after disconnection

• Anything to do with your pre-paid meter

You need to speak with MVM Next.

Contact:

• Website: https://www.mvmnext.hu/

• Customer service portal: https://www.mvmnext.hu/ugyfelszolgalat

Yes, even if you’re in an E.ON or TITÁSZ region, you still pay your electricity bills to MVM Next, the universal service provider for all residential users.

When to Contact Your Regional Electricity Distributor

For anything technical or infrastructure-related, you’ll need to contact your local distributor. These include companies like E.ON, OPUS TITÁSZ, MVM Émász and others—each responsible for a specific part of the country.

Typical reasons to contact them:

• New connection requests (e.g., building a house)

• Solar panel installation (HMKE)

• Upgrading capacity or adding phases

• Reporting a power outage or fault

• Meter location work or issues

• Paying for connection or network development

• Applying for protected consumer status

Find your distributor:

• Map and list of regional distributors: https://www.mekh.hu/villamos-energia-eloszto-tarsasagok

• Or check page 3 of your MVM Next bill—it will name the correct one for your location.

The key takeaway? Hungarian electricity providers operate in pairs—MVM Next for service, and your local distributor for physical issues. You can’t swap or choose your distributor; they’re assigned based on where you live.

Still Confused? Let’s Illustrate with a Real-Life Story

When we bought our Budapest flat, I thought I was quite clever transferring the electricity contract to our name through MVM Next. Easy peasy.

But then the lights went out a month later.

We rang MVM Next—who promptly told us, in the politest possible Hungarian, “Not our problem.” Turns out the issue was on the network side. After several wrong numbers and one defeated sigh, we reached ELMŰ Hálózati Kft., who cover much of Budapest’s infrastructure. They sent a technician, fixed the issue, and all was well again. But had I known then what I know now, I’d have skipped the runaround.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Panic, Just Bookmark

The good news? Once you understand the system, it’s manageable. The bad news? No one explains it up front.

So the next time someone asks you about Hungarian electricity providers, you can impress them with your two-tiered knowledge. Or at least point them to this post.

Got questions? Drop them in the comments or email me via the HOW TO HUNGARY contact page. I may not be able to fix your outage, but I can definitely help you figure out who to call.

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If this post saved you a headache (or three), you’ll love my ebook:
👉 HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond
Your no-nonsense, practical, and occasionally funny comprehensive guide to life in Hungary.