TO BE PUBLISHED March 2027
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This conference will consider next steps for industrial energy costs in the UK. Areas for discussion will include the development and implementation of measures affecting industrial electricity costs, support for energy-intensive and other manufacturing businesses, network and market reform, industrial electrification, and longer-term approaches to price stability and international competitiveness.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to examine the impact of energy costs on UK industry and priorities for competitiveness, investment and growth. The planned agenda will look at the implementation of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, alongside the more targeted support available to energy-intensive industries through the British Industry Supercharger, including questions around eligibility and take-up, and the implications for businesses outside existing schemes. Delegates will also consider cost pressures facing manufacturers not fully covered by existing support, including SMEs and businesses seeking to electrify or decarbonise, and policy options for measures where current schemes do not reach.
Further sessions will consider possible longer-term approaches for giving industrial users greater certainty over energy costs, and supporting investment. Areas for discussion include development of the market for Corporate Power Purchase Agreements, support for price stabilisation, industrial energy efficiency and flexibility, and addressing barriers to electrification including electricity costs and access to network capacity.
The conference will also examine implications of wider electricity market and network reform for industrial costs. Discussion will include delivery of the Reformed National Pricing programme, network charging and constraints, connections reform and the developing role of Great British Grid in network investment and accelerating business connections. Attendees will consider how industrial competitiveness can be supported alongside the investment required for clean power and network development, including questions around the allocation and recovery of system costs and the implications for industrial users.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- industrial competitiveness: impact of electricity costs on investment and production - international competitiveness - priorities for reducing costs over the short and longer-term
- BICS implementation:
- readiness for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme - phased introduction of exemptions from April and October 2027
- eligibility and take-up - implications for investment decisions - treatment of businesses outside qualifying sectors
- energy-intensive industry:
- operation and future development of the British Industry Supercharger - network charge compensation
- review of support and eligibility - interaction with wider industrial support
- wider business support: pressures on SMEs and less energy-intensive manufacturers - options for targeted or transitional support - incentives for investment in energy efficiency
- price stability:
- development of Corporate Power Purchase Agreements - barriers to wider industrial take-up
- options for longer-term price stabilisation - implications for generators and industrial users
- electrification: making industrial electrification commercially viable - electricity and gas cost differentials - energy efficiency and flexibility - on-site generation and storage
- market reform: delivery of Reformed National Pricing - wholesale market arrangements - constraint and balancing costs - implications for industrial electricity prices
- networks & connections:
- network investment and charging - reducing delays in industrial connections - self-build connections
- developing role of Great British Grid - implications for system costs and competitiveness
- cost allocation:
- funding and recovery of policy and network costs - implementation of BICS exemptions without increasing costs for non-exempt users
- fairness and predictability for industrial consumers
- investment & clean power:
- aligning industrial demand, renewable generation and network development - securing investment while reducing system costs
- implications for industrial growth and decarbonisation
