BICS · British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme
Email us about BICSBritish Industrial Competitiveness Scheme
BICS strips policy levies off your electricity bill. It is built for mainstream manufacturing, not just the most electricity-intensive heavy industry. Eligible codes were confirmed in April 2026, so you can check where you stand now.
Email us to check eligibilityBICS AT A GLANCE
What your business could get back
Up to 25% off your electricity bill.
£35–£40 saved per MWh (roughly 3.5–4p per kWh), applied as a bill exemption.
Starts April 2027, backdated to April 2026.
KEY DATES
Apply between 1st October and 30th November 2026
The window is open for just 61 days, and there's no second chance until next year.
WINDOW OPENS
1st Oct 2026
Applications open online. Have your evidence ready before then.
WINDOW CLOSES
30th Nov 2026
Final deadline at 11:59pm. There's no second window until next year.
DECISIONS
Jan 2027
Decisions by mid-January, or later that month for complex cases.
SAVINGS START
Apr 2027
Exemptions begin, backdated to April 2026 via a one-off payment.
Start now: send us your details before 1st October and we'll help you be ready to apply the day the window opens.
Could your site qualify for a BICS electricity exemption?
Check your SIC and product codes against the official eligible lists, plus the other criteria. Takes about two minutes.
Check your site against the four BICS criteria, including a live search of the official eligible SIC and product code lists.
BICS exempts eligible manufacturers from the indirect costs of the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and Capacity Market on grid electricity. The first application window runs 1st October – 30th November 2026.
Start the eligibility check →YOUR RESULT IS READY
Add your details to see your result
It only takes a few seconds, and your result appears straight away. Our Customer Success team can then help you prepare your application.
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Code lists are the final eligible SIC-4 and HS6 codes published by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Annex A, July 2026), and the criteria follow the GOV.UK guidance for applicants (August 2026). This tool gives an initial indication only. Final eligibility is determined after a full application is assessed by BIST. It is not legal, financial or energy advice. You can also use the official GOV.UK eligibility checker.
We can help
Contact us and our Customer Success team will help you work out whether you're eligible, and what you'll need to apply.
We can help you check your eligibility and complete your application
We'll help identify your 6-digit HS product codes
One application can cover all your eligible sites
PREFER TO TALK?
Request a callback and our Customer Success team will ring you.
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Leave your details and our Customer Success team will call you back to talk through your eligibility.
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We'll check your company's SIC code before we call.
Does your business qualify?
BICS has four tests. We can check the first two from public records. To confirm the rest and complete your application, we'll need a few details from you.
WE CAN CHECK THESE FROM PUBLIC RECORDS
Companies House registration
Your company name and registration number, the first of the four tests.
An eligible SIC code
Your registered business activity shows whether you're in an eligible frontier or foundational sector, the second test.
Registered company officers
The application has to be made, or authorised, by one of your registered officers.
WE'LL NEED THESE FROM YOU
Manufacturing sites and MPANs
The address of each site in Great Britain you want to claim for, plus the MPAN for every electricity supply there. If you're already a Fidelity Energy customer, we should have these on file.
6 months of electricity bills
From the last 12 months, showing at least 16.5 MWh of grid electricity at the site (the 6-month equivalent of 33 MWh a year).
Products made at each site
A full list, eligible and ineligible, with 6-digit HS codes. Don't know them? We'll help you identify them.
How much electricity goes into eligible products
An estimate or sub-metering data. Over 25% earns a 50% exemption; 50% or more earns 100%.
6 months of production evidence
ERP records, production logs, QC records or export and customs paperwork. Sales or purchase notes alone aren't accepted.
A short production process summary
Around 350 words describing how your products are made on site.
A GOV.UK One Login
For the person submitting the application, verified with a passport or driving licence.
Large businesses and SMEs both qualify. Size alone doesn't rule you in or out.
Already claiming EII Supercharger relief on this MPAN? The same exemption can't be given twice. If a further MPAN at your site is eligible for BICS, though, you may still be able to claim on that meter alone.
This reflects our assessment based on published BICS guidance. Final eligibility is confirmed once you apply.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What businesses want to know about BICS
What is BICS?
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme discounts eligible manufacturers' electricity bills by around £35–£40 per MWh (roughly 3.5–4p per kWh) off policy levies, for five years once approved.
Who is it aimed at?
Manufacturing frontier and foundational industries, both SMEs and large businesses. Unlike the EII Supercharger, it isn't just for the most electricity-intensive heavy industry.
What counts as an eligible product?
Goods made at the site that are sold on or transferred for further manufacturing elsewhere, identified by a 6-digit HS commodity code. These are international customs codes, so if you only trade domestically you may never have needed them. Send us your product list and we'll identify them for you.
Can I check eligibility myself?
Yes. The government's online checker gives an initial indication, though nothing you enter is saved or used in your application. Or send us your SIC code and product list and we'll check it for you.
What happens after I apply?
Decisions are due by mid-January 2027, or the end of January for complex cases. Once approved, your exemption runs for five years, with a short annual declaration and a fuller review in year two.
Can I combine BICS with the EII Supercharger?
Not on the same MPAN, because the same exemption can't be given twice. A separate eligible MPAN at the same site may still qualify for BICS.
Can one application cover several sites?
Yes. It's one application per company per year, covering every eligible site. Applications can't be changed once submitted, so it's worth getting your evidence right first.
What if I'm turned down, or ask you to apply for me?
If we prepare your application, it's no-win, no-fee. Appeals are only possible where there's been an error in the assessment, not simply because you disagree with the outcome.