Közszolgáltatói

Közszolgáltatói is an adjective in Hungarian that relates to public service providers or public utilities. It is used to describe activities, sectors, or obligations connected with supplying essential services to the population. The corresponding noun form is közszolgáltató, meaning a public utility company or a public service provider. The term is common in legal, regulatory, and policy contexts when discussing the framework for delivering basic services.

Sectors typically described as közszolgáltatói include energy (electricity, natural gas, district heating), water supply and wastewater management, waste collection and processing, and, in some contexts, telecommunications and public transportation. These areas are often subject to public regulation to ensure continuity, universal access, affordability, and reasonable quality of service, rather than pure market competition.

In Hungary, public utilities are regulated by specialized authorities such as the Magyar Energetikai és Közmű-szabályozási Hivatal (MEKH), which licenses providers, sets price principles, and oversees service quality and network access. Public service providers may be state, municipal, or private entities operating under concession or licensing agreements, and their duties are frequently anchored in public service contracts and statutory obligations. The közszolgáltatói concept thus captures the balance between market mechanisms and the need to guarantee universal, reliable, and non-discriminatory access to essential services, reflecting the societal role of these services beyond profit considerations.