We examined the transparency, reliability and relevance of the factors that are determined by law and applied in charge calculation formulas. We analysed interdependencies between tariff determination and corporate costs, investments and ownership relations using the guidelines of the Hungarian Prime Minister's Office (MeH), publications, public data sources and corporate tax data of the Hungarian Tax and Financial Control Administration (APEH).
The research aimed at the examination of tariff determination among Hungarian transmission system operators and provider license owners.
We examined the transparency, reliability and relevance of the factors that are determined by law and applied in charge calculation formulas. We analysed interdependencies between tariff determination and corporate costs, investments and ownership relations using the guidelines of the Hungarian Prime Minister's Office (MeH), publications, public data sources and corporate tax data of the Hungarian Tax and Financial Control Administration (APEH). Regarding this, a question arose whether exceptions and flexibly defined categories exist, which can lead to the formation of disproportions in rewarding the actors of the system. It is questionable whether all the actors obtain the return on their investments that is reasonable by international standards. In addition, we examined where distortions could arise, what the consequences could be and where the losses could emerge.
We conducted interviews with important stakeholders (Ministry of Transport, Telecommunication and Energy, the Hungarian Prime Minister's Office, MAVIR Hungarian Transmission System Operator Company Ltd. and E.ON as a service provider) that were used as background information in the study. (Because of the sensible topic, stakeholders were laconic and mostly secluded themselves from participating in the interviews.) The professional opinions were processed from the publications of ETSO between 2006 and 2009 and the survey made by ING Bank on this topic in 2008.
The principles, operation and the applied pricing methods of network use (access) charge regulation systems in other European countries are discussed through international (e.g. Austrian, German) examples, focusing on the differences and their reasons.
