OpenConsultation consultationoutcome

British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme: consultation on regulatory changes and scheme delivery

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Government response to BICS consultation on regulatory changes and scheme delivery

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BICS sectoral consumption estimates

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Detail of outcome

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) sought views on regulatory changes and scheme delivery for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS).   

This consultation received 77 responses, including from:  

  • electricity suppliers 
  • electricity regulators 
  • businesses  
  • consumer groups 

This government response sets out the approach to regulatory changes and scheme design for BICS, informed by responses to the consultation.


Original consultation

Summary

This consultation seeks views on the proposed regulatory changes and approach to scheme delivery for the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS).

This consultation closesran atfrom
to

Consultation description

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) aims to reduce electricity costs for manufacturing frontier industries within the Industrial Strategy’s growth sectors (the IS-8), and foundational manufacturing industries which provide key inputs to the frontier industries, who meet the relevant electricity‑intensity threshold. 

Eligible businesses are to be exempt from paying the indirect costs of the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariffs from April 2027 and the Capacity Market from October 2027.   

This consultation seeks views on the proposed regulatory changes beingneeded made to give effect to implement BICS and how we propose the scheme be delivered.

This consultation covers Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and does not apply to Northern Ireland. The Scottish Government is responsible for the Renewable Obligations legislation in Scotland and will be consulting separately on changes to their legislation.

Documents

BICS: consultation on regulatory changes and scheme delivery

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Ways to respond

Updates to this page

Published 16 April 2026
Last updated 8 July 2026 Show all updates
  1. Government response to the consultation and 'BICS sectoral consumption estimates' spreadsheet added to the page.

  2. First published.

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