Widening eligibility for renewable electricity cost relief schemes
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
Following consideration of responses to the consultation, the government has made the following decisions:
- the eligibility threshold for the exemption schemes will be maintained at the current 20% electricity intensity
- the aid intensity will remain at the current 85% level
- we will amend the relevant legislation to add the flour milling sector to the list of eligible sectors
- we will not redistribute monies recovered from over-exempted companies to other consumers. We will keep under review the amount recovered and publish this amount periodically
- we will implement the proposals set out in the consultation document on improving the operation of the exemption schemes
Detail of feedback received
We received a total of 58 responses to the consultation:
- 23 were from manufacturers (both eligible and ineligible for the EII exemption schemes)
- 16 from trade associations and industry bodies
- 12 from energy suppliers
- 7 from other sources (including Devolved Administrations, regulators, consumer organisations and other businesses)
Original consultation
Consultation description
We’re seeking views on:
- whether there is evidence of potential competitive distortions as a result of the current eligibility threshold for the renewable electricity cost exemption schemes
- to what percentage should the current threshold of 20% electricity intensity be lowered – 17%, 15% or 10% - in order to address the distortions
- if the threshold is lowered, how to minimise the cost on non-eligible consumers.
The consultation also seeks views on related issues concerning:
- redistribution of money recovered from over-exempted EIIs
- improving operation of the exemption schemes
The consultation document is accompanied by an impact assessment setting out the bill and price impacts of the various options.
Documents
Updates to this page
Last updated 17 October 2019 + show all updates
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Government response added.
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First published.