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:
Renewables Obligation
Funds large-scale renewable generation — typically the largest single levy on a business electricity bill.
Key dates
The window to apply is short and fixed. Miss it, and there's no route in until the government runs another round.
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1 October 2026 Applications openApply through your GOV.UK One Login business account.
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30 November 2026, 11:59pm Applications closeOne application per company, covering all sites. No amendments after submission.
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January 2027Eligibility decisions issued.
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April 2027Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariff exemptions start appearing on bills.
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October 2027Capacity Market exemption starts.
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During 2027A 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.
Foundational industries 2.7% threshold
The energy-intensive industries that supply them.
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.
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
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.