Could your manufacturing business benefit from lower electricity costs?

Running a manufacturing business means balancing customer orders, production schedules and costs that can leave little room for manoeuvre. Electricity is part of that picture, and any opportunity to reduce its cost deserves a closer look.

At Unify Energy, we want our customers to understand the support available to them and feel comfortable asking for help. Here is where to start with the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, or BICS.

What BICS could mean for your business?

BICS is designed to reduce electricity costs for eligible manufacturing businesses in England, Scotland and Wales. It provides exemptions from costs associated with three electricity schemes: the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and Capacity Market, which support renewable generation and electricity capacity.

For a qualifying manufacturer, this could ease some of the pressure on day-to-day operating costs. Depending on your business, the savings could help you invest in equipment, develop your team or simply give you more room to manage other expenses.

It is worth remembering that the exemptions cover specific electricity policy costs, rather than your entire bill. Understanding how they relate to your supply will help you plan with greater confidence.

Could your business qualify?

Key requirements include being registered with Companies House, operating in an eligible sector, manufacturing eligible products in Great Britain and using at least 33 MWh of grid-supplied electricity a year at the manufacturing site concerned.

The government's eligibility list identifies business activities through SIC codes and products through HS codes. These are classification codes used to describe what your business does and what it manufactures. Checking both is a useful starting point.

You can use the government's eligibility checker for an initial indication of whether your business may qualify. A full application and government assessment are needed to confirm eligibility.

If you are unsure how your electricity use relates to the requirements, speak to your account manager directly. Having your supply information to hand can make the next steps easier to understand.

Manufacturing in a rented space? 

Receiving electricity through a landlord, managing agent or site operator does not automatically prevent you from qualifying. You may need their help to provide evidence of your consumption and supply arrangements.

Where a meter is shared, the exemption relates to the eligible manufacturer's share of electricity use. The benefit is applied to the third party's electricity bill and passed through to the qualifying manufacturer. Agreeing how this will be reflected in your charges is an important part of the process.

We know that electricity arrangements in shared buildings can take a little more explaining. Our work with businesses in multi-tenanted properties has shown us how valuable clear consumption records and understandable billing can be.

If Unify Energy is your business energy supplier, please get in touch about the supply information available. Starting that conversation early gives everyone more time to bring the relevant records together.

When should you act?

Applications close at 11:59 pm on 30 November 2026. Relief is scheduled to begin in April 2027 for the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariffs, and October 2027 for the Capacity Market, subject to implementing legislation.

Give yourself time to review the requirements, collect evidence and check the application carefully. Bringing your finance, operations and property contacts into the conversation now can help avoid a last-minute search for missing information.

Read the government's applicant guidance and guidance for landlords and other third parties before submitting.

Here to help you understand your next step

You do not need to have every answer before contacting us. Whether you want help understanding your bill, finding your supply details or discussing your site's electricity use, your dedicated Customer Specialist is a good place to start.

If BICS does not apply to your business, that conversation is still worth having. Your energy needs deserve attention, whatever your size or sector.

Speak to your Dedicated Account Manager about your electricity supply and the next steps for your business.