Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy Amendment Regulations 2026

UK New Legislation

Published April 1st, 2026

Detected March 10th, 2026

Summary

The UK Secretary of State has amended the Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy Regulations 2024. These amendments increase the electricity support payment rate from 60% to 90% of network charges and extend the application period from one month to two months. The regulations come into force on April 1, 2026.

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What changed

The Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2026 amend the 2024 Regulations, increasing the electricity support payment rate for eligible energy-intensive businesses from 60% to 90% of network charging costs. Additionally, the period for making an application for these payments has been extended from one month to two months. The levy fund, which finances these payments, has also been adjusted to accommodate the increased support.

Energy-intensive businesses that are eligible for these support payments should be aware of the increased benefit rate and the extended application window. Compliance officers should ensure their internal processes are updated to reflect the new application deadline and the higher reimbursement percentage. The amendments are effective from April 1, 2026, and apply to England, Wales, and Scotland.

What to do next

Update internal processes to reflect the two-month application period for electricity support payments.
Ensure claims submitted reflect the increased support payment rate of 90% of network charges.
Verify eligibility criteria for energy-intensive businesses under the amended regulations.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 243

ELECTRICITY

The Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Made

5th March 2026

Coming into force

1st April 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 211(1) to (3) and (5) and 212(1) and (2) of the Energy Act 2023(1).

In accordance with sections 211(11), 212(10) and 331(3) of the Energy Act 2023, a draft of these Regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Citation, commencement and extent

—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

(3) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2026.

Amendments

—(1) The Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy Regulations 2024(2) are amended as set out in paragraphs (2) to (4).

(2) In regulation 7(1), for “one month” substitute “two months”.

(3) In regulation 8(2), for “60%” substitute “90%”.

(4) In regulation 13(2), for “60%” substitute “90%”.

Chris McDonald

Minister for Industry

Department for Business and Trade

5th March 2026

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/409) (“ the 2024 Regulations ”). The 2024 Regulations entitle eligible energy-intensive businesses to electricity support payments in respect of network charging costs and set out how such payments are to be funded (through a levy on electricity suppliers).

Regulation 2(2) increases the period for making an application from one month to two months.

The amendments made by regulation 2(3) and (4) have the effect of increasing the level of support payments from 60% to 90% of network charges. Regulation 2(3) increases the size of the estimated levy fund and regulation 2(4) increases the level of EII support payments for the claim month.

An impact assessment setting out the key impacts of this policy has been completed. The impact assessment is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk. A copy is also available by contacting EII.correspondence@businessandtrade.gov.uk or the Department for Business and Trade, Old Admiralty Building, Admiralty Place, London, SW1A 2DY.

(1) 2023 c. 52.

(2) S.I. 2024/409.