A new government scheme could take a noticeable chunk off manufacturers' electricity bills from April 2027. The application window is short, and late applications won't be considered for the first round.
What BICS does
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme exempts eligible manufacturers from the costs of the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariffs from April 2027, and the Capacity Market from October 2027. These are policy costs built into every business electricity bill. Government estimates suggest savings of up to around 25% on electricity bills for eligible sites, and approved exemptions last five years.
A quick eligibility check
Your site could be worth a closer look if:
- you're registered with Companies House
- you make eligible products in an eligible manufacturing sector (these are defined by SIC and HS codes)
- each site uses at least 33 MWh of grid electricity a year
- most of that electricity goes on eligible manufacturing
Relief is 100% where 50% or more is used for eligible manufacturing, and 50% where it's between 25% and 50%.
What to have ready
- Your company registration number
- Site addresses and meter numbers (MPANs)
- Six consecutive months of recent electricity bills
- Evidence of the products you make
Don't leave it to November
You can't amend an application once it's submitted, and decisions are due in January 2027. Getting the details right first time matters more than getting in early, but leaving it to the last week leaves no room for mistakes.
How we help
We'll check your eligibility for free, and our specialist partners can prepare and submit the application for you.
Find out more: Energy relief schemes
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