Businesses
impacted by rising energy prices will have the opportunity to
provide information and data that will shape a £250 million
Government scheme aimed at alleviating their electricity bills.
The Government has today issued a call for evidence in support of
the Energy Intensive Industries (EII) Package. The programme aims
to reduce the impact of energy and climate change policies on the
cost of electricity for those energy intensive industries whose
international competitiveness is most affected by them.
Government estimates predict that energy and climate change
policies may add up to 28 per cent in 2020 on average electricity
prices paid by large energy intensive users.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said:
“The Government is committed to ensuring that manufacturing is
able to remain competitive during the shift to a low carbon
economy.
“The measures proposed in our EII Package will offer crucial
support to energy intensive industries.”
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said:
“As we manage the transition to a cleaner energy mix, it’s
important that we are alive to adverse impacts felt by energy
intensive industries which face tough competition overseas.
“The evidence we are calling for today will help us to target the
financial support we have available to those businesses that need
it most.”
Through the EII Package, £250 million of direct financial
assistance will be targeted to the most energy-intensive
businesses whose competitiveness may be affected.
The call for evidence asks companies and trade bodies to share
information and data about their energy-intensity in order to help
Government target compensation effectively.
Once sufficient data is gathered, the Government will formulate
policy, consulting in September this year, for implementation in
Spring 2013, subject to state aid rules.
Notes to editors:
Businesses interested in providing evidence are asked to visit
www.bis.gov.uk/carbon-price-floor-compensation
BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press
notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It
also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See
http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Andy Aston
Phone: 0207 215 6963
andy.aston@bis.gov.uk