British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme

Cut your electricity bills by up to 25%

A new government scheme removes three charges from eligible GB manufacturers' electricity bills. We'll check if you qualify — free, no obligation.

25% off eligible electricity bills
£35–40 saved per MWh used
10,000 firms expected to qualify
30 Nov 2026 application deadline
Check your eligibility See what you could save
One window. No second chances. Applications are open for just 61 days — 1 October to 11:59pm, 30 November 2026 — and can't be amended once submitted.

What is BICS?

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is a government scheme under the Modern Industrial Strategy. From April 2027 it removes three policy charges from the electricity bills of eligible manufacturers:

RO

Renewables Obligation

Funds large-scale renewable generation — typically the largest single levy on a business electricity bill.

FiT

Feed-in Tariff

Funds small-scale renewable generation, such as rooftop solar.

CM

Capacity Market

Pays generators to guarantee electricity supply at times of peak demand.

Check your eligibility Two minutes with us now could be worth six figures a year — or read the official GOV.UK guidance.

Key dates

The window to apply is short and fixed. Miss it, and there's no route in until the government runs another round.

  1. 1 October 2026 Applications open
    Apply through your GOV.UK One Login business account.
  2. 30 November 2026, 11:59pm Applications close
    One application per company, covering all sites. No amendments after submission.
  3. January 2027
    Eligibility decisions issued.
  4. April 2027
    Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariff exemptions start appearing on bills.
  5. October 2027
    Capacity Market exemption starts.
  6. During 2027
    A one-off payment backdates support to April 2026.

Who qualifies?

Three tests decide it — and your business must pass all three.

Sector

Your SIC code — the sector your business is registered under at Companies House — is on the eligible list.

Product

You manufacture an eligible product, classified by its HS6 commodity code.

Electricity intensity

You meet the electricity intensity threshold: 0.9% for frontier sectors, 2.7% for foundational sectors.

Also worth knowing

  • Eligibility is assessed site by site
  • SMEs can qualify — this isn't just for the giants
  • Around 10,000 firms are expected to be eligible
  • Great Britain only — Northern Ireland is not covered
  • Your company must be registered at Companies House
  • Each site needs at least 33 MWh of grid electricity a year

Which sectors are eligible?

Eligible sectors fall into two groups, each with its own electricity intensity threshold.

Frontier industries 0.9% threshold

The growth sectors the Modern Industrial Strategy is built around.

Advanced manufacturing Clean energy Defence Digital & tech Life sciences

Foundational industries 2.7% threshold

The energy-intensive industries that supply them.

Chemicals Composites Critical minerals Materials Steel Electricity network components

What could you save?

The government estimates the exemptions are worth around £35–40 per MWh — that's 3.5–4p off every kWh you use.

Using 500,000 kWh a year c. £19,000 indicative saving per year
Using 5,000,000 kWh a year c. £190,000 indicative saving per year
Using 50,000,000 kWh a year c. £1.9m indicative saving per year

Savings shown are indicative, based on government estimates of £35–40 per MWh. Your actual saving depends on your consumption, your contract and the final scheme rules — these figures are not a guarantee.

What you'll need to apply

Applications open 1 October 2026. Having this ready before the window opens is the difference between a smooth application and a scramble.

  • A GOV.UK One Login business account — you'll need a passport or driving licence to set one up
  • Your Companies House number
  • A Companies House officer available to authorise the application
  • Details of every GB site you want covered, including MPANs (the supply numbers on your electricity bills)
  • 6 consecutive months of electricity bills from the last 12, for each site
  • The products you make, with evidence
  • Confirmation from your supplier if any site is on a private network
One shot at this. You submit a single application per company covering all of your sites — and it cannot be amended after submission. Get it right first time.

Your questions, answered

What is BICS?

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is a UK government scheme under the Modern Industrial Strategy. It exempts eligible manufacturers in Great Britain from the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariff and Capacity Market charges on their electricity bills — cutting electricity costs by up to 25%.

Do I qualify?

You must pass three tests: an eligible SIC code, an eligible product (by HS6 code), and the electricity intensity threshold — 0.9% for frontier sectors or 2.7% for foundational sectors. Eligibility is assessed site by site, each site needs at least 33 MWh of grid electricity a year, and the scheme covers Great Britain only.

The quickest way to find out is to ask us — we'll check for you, free. You can also use the official GOV.UK eligibility checker.

How much will I save?

Government estimates put the exemptions at around £35–40 per MWh — 3.5–4p per kWh. A site using 500,000 kWh a year could save roughly £19,000 a year; a site using 5,000,000 kWh, roughly £190,000. These figures are indicative, based on government estimates, and not a guarantee.

Does my current contract include it?

No. Once your application is approved, the exemption is shared with your supplier and applied to your bills from April 2027.

How do I apply?

Applications open 1 October 2026 and close at 11:59pm on 30 November 2026, through your GOV.UK One Login business account. It's one application per company covering all your GB sites, and it can't be amended after submission — so gather the checklist above before the window opens.

Not sure if you qualify? We'll check for you.

Resolve Energy helps UK manufacturers get BICS-ready: checking eligibility across your sites, gathering the bills and evidence, and making sure your one application counts. No obligation — just a straight answer.

Call us 0800 170 7670
Hours Mon - Fri 08:30 - 17:00
Prefer to check yourself? Use the official GOV.UK eligibility checker

Last updated 23 September 2026.

Scheme details and savings figures on this page are based on government estimates and published guidance at the date above. They are indicative only and not a guarantee of eligibility or savings — always confirm the latest position on GOV.UK.

Resolve Energy Ltd is a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 07706493 and a registered office at C/O Langtons, The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9QJ.