Your Business Could Reduce Electricity Costs by up to 25%
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) is a new UK Government initiative designed to help eligible manufacturers reduce electricity costs and improve international competitiveness.
Qualifying businesses can receive exemptions from a range of electricity policy charges, potentially reducing costs by up to £40/MWh and delivering significant annual savings.
At ECA Business Energy, we help manufacturers identify whether they qualify, calculate the potential benefit and manage the application process from start to finish.
What is BICS?
BICS reduces electricity costs for eligible UK manufacturers by exempting them from the indirect costs associated with:
- Renewables Obligation (RO)
- Feed-in Tariffs (FiT)
- Capacity Market (CM)
For qualifying businesses, those exemptions can be worth up to £40/MWh, supporting profitability and freeing up capital for future investment.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility is based on several criteria:
- Sector — Your business must operate within an eligible manufacturing sector, identified by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code
- Products — You must manufacture qualifying products, identified using Harmonised System (HS) codes
- Electricity usage — Minimum consumption thresholds apply, and you must be able to demonstrate the proportion of electricity used in eligible manufacturing activities
- UK registration — Applicants must be registered with Companies House and meet the scheme’s requirements
How ECA Can Help
Our specialists take care of the BCIS process end to end:
- Eligibility Assessment — SIC code review, HS code identification, manufacturing activity assessment and initial qualification review.
- Savings Analysis — Electricity consumption review, site-by-site analysis and estimated BICS benefit calculation.
- Application Support — Evidence gathering, data validation, application preparation and submission support.
- Ongoing Compliance — Annual reviews, eligibility monitoring and support for future submissions and audits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ECA support with identifying my HS codes?
Most manufacturers know their SIC code, but have never needed to determine their HS codes before. ECA can help you identify qualifying products, the relevant HS codes and the manufacturing activities that may bring your business within scope.
How much could my business save?
It depends on your electricity consumption and the proportion of eligible manufacturing activity. Some businesses could reduce electricity costs by up to 25%.
Is every manufacturer eligible?
No, eligibility depends on your sector, the products you manufacture, your electricity usage and other government-defined criteria.
When can applications be submitted?
The first window is open between 1 October 2026 and 30 November 2026.
Does BICS involve ongoing obligations?
Yes. Businesses receiving support will be subject to periodic reviews and compliance requirements. ECA can help you manage these as part of an ongoing service.