Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, by what date her Department plans to make a decision on applications for the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries discount element of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme for applications in Northern Ireland submitted prior to 16 October 2023.

All eligible businesses automatically receive the baseline support under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) from 1 April 2023, for as long as wholesale prices continue to meet or exceed the threshold price. The process for implementing additional support for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries in Northern Ireland is underway and while the Department cannot provide a precise date, it expects the work to be concluded soon. The additional support will be backdated to 1 April 2023.