What necessitated the amendment?

The installation of energy storage systems is often accompanied by the replacement of the existing inverter. Under the previous regulatory framework, however, an inverter replacement could, under certain conditions, qualify as an amendment to the contract between the user and the electricity trader. This legal qualification is significant because:

• a contractual change in itself could trigger a transfer between different settlement schemes;
• this could have resulted in the premature loss of a more favourable settlement regime;
• consequently, it could have entailed long-term disadvantages for investors.

Given that the state itself encourages users to implement such investments under the support scheme, the issue potentially affected a wide range of beneficiaries, making regulatory clarification indispensable.

What does Government Decree 28/2026 (II. 19.) change?

The decree introduces a new exemption into the Implementing Decree. Its core provision is that the replacement of an inverter shall not qualify as a contractual amendment that would justify an early change of the applicable settlement scheme, provided that the following conditions are met:

1. the inverter replacement is connected to an investment implemented within the framework of the Home Energy Storage Programme established in 2025 and announced for 2026;
2. the nominal capacity of the new inverter does not exceed the nominal capacity of the previous inverter by more than 1 kW (in the case of multiple inverters, the aggregate previous capacity shall be taken into account).

Subject to compliance with the capacity limit, an inverter with a higher number of phases may also be installed.

The rule therefore expressly applies to technically justified and limited modifications related to subsidised energy storage investments. The amendment creates a targeted exemption from the previous regulation and ensures that supported inverter replacements do not adversely affect settlement entitlements.

The decree entered into force on the third day following its promulgation, i.e. on 22 February 2026. Accordingly, the legal framework governing inverter replacements and the installation of energy storage systems is already subject to the amended provisions.

Practical considerations: what does this mean for investors and service providers?

The principal advantage of the amendment is that inverter replacement carried out in connection with the installation of subsidised energy storage systems does not automatically result in a change of the settlement method, nor does it lead to the loss of the existing settlement regime.

The regulatory position of household-sized photovoltaic systems therefore remains stable in the longer term.

Furthermore, the legislation allows for the application of technical solutions that enhance the efficient operation and proper integration of the system (e.g. a change in the number of phases).

For electricity traders and distribution system operators, the amendment provides a clear normative framework and unambiguous statutory guidance, thereby reducing the likelihood of interpretative disputes and settlement-related conflicts.

What conditions must be observed?

The application of the favourable rule is subject to strict conditions. The exemption applies only if:

1. the increase in nominal capacity does not exceed 1 kW (in the case of multiple inverters, the aggregate previous capacity is decisive);
2. the replacement is directly linked to a subsidised energy storage investment implemented under the Home Energy Storage Programme.

If these conditions are not met, the legal assessment of the inverter replacement may differ. The qualification as a contractual amendment may once again become subject to examination, and the possibility of a change in the settlement regime may arise.

Conclusion

Government Decree 28/2026 (II. 19.) introduces a targeted and practice-oriented amendment to the implementing legislation of electricity law. It eliminates legal uncertainty regarding inverter replacements related to the energy storage programme, creates a more predictable regulatory environment for residential renewable energy investments, and ensures that technically necessary modifications do not automatically result in adverse legal consequences.

The amendment is consistent with the support objectives of the programme and facilitates its smooth and predictable implementation.

On 19 February 2026, Government Decree 28/2026 (II. 19.) was promulgated, introducing an important amendment to the implementing regulation of the electricity (Government Decree 273/2007 (X. 19.) – hereinafter: “Implementing Decree”). The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that inverter replacements carried out in connection with the Home Energy Storage Programme („Otthoni Energiatároló Program”), launched in 2025 and announced for 2026, do not result in unfavourable settlement consequences for operators of household-sized small power plants.

The Home Energy Storage Programme is a state aid scheme designed to promote the installation of battery energy storage systems connected to residential photovoltaic systems. Within the framework of the programme, households may apply for non-repayable grants, subject to specified conditions, for the establishment of energy storage systems.

In this article, we present the essence and practical relevance of the legislative amendment, as well as the legal framework within which inverter replacements and settlement-related issues must be assessed.

Government Decree No. 415/2025 (XII. 23.) on the amendment of consumer protection–related government decrees with a view to ensuring a higher level of consumer protection introduces substantial changes in the field of consumer protection as of 2026.

In this article, we briefly summarise those amendments which will be perceptible to consumers in everyday life and may be of particular practical importance from 2026 onwards.

Government Decree No. 415/2025 (XII. 23.) amends a total of six government decrees related to consumer protection.
The objectives of the amendments are, on the one hand, to strengthen consumer protection and, on the other hand, to reduce the administrative burden on businesses, while also ensuring compliance with EU law and legal harmonisation.

Government Decree No. 448/2025 (XII. 29.) amends Government Decree No. 327/2015 (XI. 10.) on the detailed rules of professional practice related to surveying and cartographic activities for non-cadastral purposes by introducing a new concept and new rules. These amendments will enter into force on 14 January 2026.

The most significant change is the introduction of the concept of the planning base map, the preparation of which now mandatorily requires the setting out of the property boundary.

In practice, the new regulation aims to ensure more uniform, more accurate and, from the perspective of the planning process, more reliable base maps, which may help prevent future conflicts and legal disputes. At the same time, the additional requirements are likely to slow down procedures and increase costs, and stakeholders should be prepared for this impact.

What Do Carriers and Affected Businesses Need to Know?

On 23 December 2025, two new pieces of legislation affecting public roads and freight traffic were promulgated, both of which entered into force on 1 January 2026. The primary objective of the new regulatory framework is to ensure that international and domestic transit traffic is conducted along uniform, legally designated routes, primarily using high-capacity dual-carriageway (2×2 lane) road networks. The regulation serves both to enhance road safety and to reduce the burden on residential areas and secondary roads.

The two relevant legal instruments are: 

• Decree No. 44/2025 (XII. 23.) of the Ministry of Construction and Transport (ÉKM), aimed at defining the Hungarian sections of the transit route network; and

• Government Decree No. 439/2025 (XII. 23.), aimed at curbing freight traffic diverted from expressways.

Opinion leaders, commonly referred to as influencers, have become key actors in modern communication as a result of the rapid expansion of the internet and social media.
The development of digital technologies, the widespread use of smartphones, and the global proliferation of social media platforms—such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch—have fundamentally transformed users’ content consumption habits, as well as their entertainment and purchasing behaviours. As a consequence, influencer marketing has emerged as one of the most significant and fastest-growing tools of the modern advertising market.

By way of an interesting observation, it should be noted that, from a legal perspective, the category of influencers is not limited to natural persons acting as opinion leaders. An influencer may also include a CGI or deepfake character, an animal, or even an object.

The rapid growth of this phenomenon and the intermingling of personal and commercial content on social media platforms primarily justify the need for regulation in this field. For consumers—particularly audiences younger or older than the average user—it is often not clear whether an influencer’s recommendation is based on a paid collaboration, the provision of a gifted product, or another form of material interest.