The government has unveiled its new Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which will support thousands of local shops and other non-domestic businesses for six months from October.
Through the scheme, the government will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers in the UK whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices. This support will be equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee put in place for households.
It will apply to fixed contracts agreed on or after 1 April 2022, as well as to deemed, variable and flexible tariffs and contracts. It will apply to energy usage from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, running for an initial six-month period for all non-domestic energy users. The savings will be first seen in October bills, which are typically received in November.
Prime Minister Liz Truss said: “I understand the huge pressure businesses, charities and public sector organisations are facing with their energy bills, which is why we are taking immediate action to support them over the winter and protect jobs and livelihoods.
“As we are doing for consumers, our new scheme will keep their energy bills down from October, providing certainty and peace of mind.”
The Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed the package. Chief executive James Lowman said: “We will continue to work closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on longer-term solutions to the energy crisis facing convenience stores and other businesses, including ways to incentivise investment in energy-efficient technology.”
The government will be reviewing the operation of the scheme in three months to inform decisions on future support after March 2023.
