Serbia Heating Season 2026: Hours and Belgrade's 11-0-11
How many hours radiators run, what indoor temperature is guaranteed, and who to call when a fault hits the whole building: what applies from October 15.
Until when does a radiator heat, and who do you call when it doesn’t? As of today, October 15, the heating season officially applies across Serbia, and most heating plants switched their systems on earlier because of the cold snap.
We have already written about the test runs and prices. This is what changes from today, before you pick up the phone.
What applies from today in Serbia and Belgrade
Serbia has 60 district heating systems, which heat about 670,000 households. For Belgrade this is the 61st heating season. It runs until April 15, as set out in the city’s Decision on the Supply of Heat Energy.
In the transitional periods, from October 1 to 14 and from April 16 to May 3, heating runs only on days when the Republic Hydrometeorological Service (RHMZ) forecasts a mean daily temperature of 12 degrees Celsius or lower.
Belgrade’s cold tests ran from October 1 to 8. Hot tests and heat delivery began on October 12, three days before the official start, because of low morning temperatures. Vanja Vukic, director of the public utility company Beogradske elektrane, told Tanjug on October 14:
“Functional, that is, cold tests of the district heating system were carried out from October 1 to 8.”
According to him, all 14 heating plants and 15 boiler houses are delivering heat to customers without interruption.
How many hours a day do radiators run?
The answer depends on the city, because the supply schedule is set by local government. The sources differ on details, so here are both:
- RTS: on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., in Belgrade and larger cities until 10 p.m., and on weekends and holidays from 7 a.m.
- Beogradske elektrane website: the heating day runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sundays and holidays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
In very low temperatures, heating switches to round the clock. An indoor temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius is guaranteed, give or take one to two degrees depending on local regulations. If you live outside Belgrade, check the decision issued by your municipality or city.
Who do you call when a radiator stays cold?
In Belgrade, faults are reported to the City Service Center on 11-0-11. Vukic asked residents for patience during the first days of the hot tests and to report faults only in two cases: when water is leaking from the installation and when the whole building has no heating.
“Such faults can be reported by calling the City of Belgrade Service Center at 11-0-11.”
Beogradske elektrane also ask that reports be filed by the building’s manager or housing association. So before you call, check with your neighbors whether the problem affects the whole building.
Vrbas is still waiting, and the night will be cold
The heating plant in Vrbas has resolved its financial problem, so heating there could start in three to five days, according to RTS.
According to the RHMZ forecast issued on October 15 at 10:20 a.m., the lowest temperature on Friday, October 16, will be 7 degrees in Belgrade, 4 in Novi Sad, 3 on Palic and Zlatibor, and minus 2 on Kopaonik.
