Key developments
1 Apr 2023
Full details of Energy Bills Discount Scheme
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme will run for 12 months from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The scheme replaces the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which supported businesses and organisations between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023.
Government guidance EBDS factsheet
10 Jan 2023
Energy Bills Discount Scheme: details and eligibility
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) will continue energy bill support for businesses until 31 March 2024, but at a reduced rate.
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17 October 2022
Limits to support for consumers announced
In a reversal of policy, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, announces that the Energy Price Guarantee for consumers will run only until April 2023, instead of ending in September 2024.
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12 Oct 2022
Government’s business energy price cap scheme backdated
The government says that business energy contracts signed since 1 December will now be eligible under the scheme.
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21 Sep 2022
Government business energy plan revealed
The Government has unveiled further details of its energy plan, revealing that businesses will automatically receive a reduction in energy costs from 1 October 2022.
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22 Aug 2022
Energy supplier collapses highlight bigger sector crisis
The explosion of wholesale energy prices since the middle of last year has resulted in 29 energy companies failing. What has the experience taught us about the regulatory structure and insolvency process?
Read moreSupport for members and business
caba and more
Members can call on the services of caba and receive support to help them through the hard times. They also have access to a network of volunteers in our Support Members Scheme, ready to offer confidential advice and support.
Support from caba Support Members Scheme
FREE ESG Advice - SaveMoneyCutCarbon
With energy costs spiralling and margins being squeezed, the need to reduce the amount of energy and water used by a business has never been more pressing. Book a FREE no obligation call with an IEMA qualified energy & carbon mentor to deliver on your ESG agenda and save money.
Business Advice Service
ICAEW's Business Advice Service provides a free, initial consultation to businesses. Whether you are seeking to obtain new investment, dealing with HMRC or handling cashflow problems, a BAS firm of Chartered Accountants can be relied upon to provide trusted business advice.
Find out more
News on the crisis
ICAEW'S Insights section provides up-to-date news and analysis of the latest developments affecting business and the wider economy.
Read the latest news Sign up for the daily newsletterForecasts and predictions
11 Nov 2022
What happens when energy support for businesses ends?
The UK Energy Bills Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers is set to end after 31 March – but the cost-of-doing-business crisis will last much longer than that. According to the Federation of Small Businesses, 96% of the companies it represents are concerned about rising energy costs.
Read more
19 Oct 2022
Scaling back of energy support risks renewed inflation surge
The latest official estimate from the Office for National Statistics reveals that UK inflation accelerated to 10.1% in September as food prices soar.
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2 Sep 2022
Chart of the week: energy price cap update
Our weekly chart illustrates the upward movement in the energy price cap, highlighting how April's 54% price rise pales into insignificance in comparison with the recently announced 80% rise in October and the prospect of further big rises in the first half of 2023.
View chart
23 Aug 2022
How long will the cost of energy run the economy?
The Times economics editor David Smith considers what the rising price of energy will mean for financial services and ESG in an exclusive column for the Financial Services Faculty.
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20 Jan 2022
Chart of the week: energy prices
Our chart this week is about domestic energy prices and the Ofgem energy price cap rises expected in April and October 2022.
View chartSupport with energy costs
1 Apr 2023
Business energy efficiency campaign launched
The Government has launched a campaign to help businesses save money on their energy bills by improving energy efficiency.
Find out more
21 Sep 2022, updated 9 Jan 2023
Energy Bill Relief Scheme details
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has set out the details of its Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers. Find out how businesses and other non-domestic customers can get support this winter and into 2023.
Read more
26 Sep 2022
Mitigating spiralling business energy costs
How can large and small companies offset the effects of energy price rises – and how helpful are the government’s recent countermeasures?
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8 Sep 2022
Energy Price Guarantee for families and businesses
The Government has announced the Energy Price Guarantee for families and businesses. Households will pay up to an average £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years. Support was later limited to six months.
Read more Six month limit announced
Energy help for businesses
Official help on businesses energy complaints, microbusiness gas or electricity and advice on energy efficiency schemes from Great Britain’s energy regulator, Ofgem.
Read moreEnergy supply disruption
14 Apr 2023
Why businesses are going off the grid
As businesses face the costs resulting from turbulent and unpredictable energy markets, more and more are considering measures to take control of their own supplies.
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26 Oct 2022
Coping with the complexities of the energy market
The rise in energy costs across the UK is in part driven by the way the energy markets work. How should businesses use knowledge of that market, and what role should accountants play?
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8 Sep 2022
Energy Markets Financing Scheme announced
HM Treasury and the Bank of England have announced the launch of the Energy Markets Financing Scheme to address the liquidity requirements faced by energy firms operating in UK wholesale gas and/or electricity markets.
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9 Mar 2022
Europe’s energy and electricity supply challenges before and after the Ukraine war
Energy is an essential component of modern life. It impacts our homes through heating and electricity. It also impacts our mobility whether by car, bus, train or airplane. Energy is an important cost of most manufacturing, agricultural and service businesses. It is vital for the economy as a whole.
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25 Feb 2022
Russia-Ukraine and UK energy: BEIS factsheet
Factsheet on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on UK energy supplies produced by the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
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22 Aug 2022
Managing supply chain disruption
In this section you will find articles and guides to help you map supply chains and plan for potential supply chain disruptions.
Read moreImpact on industry sectors and business
21 Aug 2023
Smarter strategy needed to cut business energy use
The co-leader of a new Energy Demand Research Centre is calling for more certainty on climate policy and further regulation to nudge greater corporate focus on energy consumption reduction.
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30 Nov 2022
Why businesses need to plan ahead on energy
Government support schemes are currently offering some respite to the stress of rising energy bills for business. But now is the time to plan ahead for when they come to an end.
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03 Nov 2022
The energy crisis – what can businesses do?
In this ICAEW Insights podcast, we discuss the impact of the energy crisis on how businesses are sourcing their energy as well as planning for the longer term.
Listen now
21 Sep 2022
Business reaction: energy plan “a sticking plaster on a bleeding wound”
The energy discount for businesses has received a mixed response from members and companies, who welcome the support but question whether it’s too little, too late.
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22 Sep 2022
Business energy support fails to cheer hospitality
Government energy support measures do little to quash concerns about the impact of rising fuel prices on the viability of thousands of pubs
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1 Sep 2022
Cost-of-living crisis hits charity sector hard
Double whammy of increased demand and cost pressures including inflation, rising energy bills and falling donations mean charity leaders will need strong financial management and ingenuity to survive.
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If your small business can't afford its energy bills
Information from Citizens Advice on what to do if you are small business struggling to pay its energy bill, in debt or at risk of default.
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