Wednesday 14 October 2026 | AMTC, Coventry
09.00 – 17.00
October makes the opening of the application window for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS), a relief decision that will shape procurement, capex and pass-through exposure through to 2030. It is one of several decisions major energy users now face: relief eligibility, contract and capacity choices, project prioritisation, flexibility value, water resilience and proof of value to finance.
If the Buying and Using Utilities Live event in April covered the new bill reality (available to view on-demand), then this October event is the moment major energy users decide what to do about it for the next three years.
The question for the day is:
How should you manage your energy and water portfolios through to 2030 – when relief eligibility, data, capacity, flexibility, carbon and investment decisions are all live at the same time?
Session One – The Next Three Years: what large users need to change first
Major Energy Users are being asked to make decisions across procurement, efficiency, data, flexibility and investment while the energy system itself is changing around them. This opening session looks at what should change first, what better-performing organisations are already doing differently, what improved data is beginning to reveal, and what sectors facing the greatest pressure today can teach us about managing energy through to 2030.
Agenda
| 10.05 | Introduction Chair: Georgina Penfold, Director, Spraga |
| 10.10 | The energy cost crisis: is Clean Power 2030 at breaking point? The 2026 Business Energy Tracker revealed a growing challenge for UK businesses: how to remain competitive and maintain confidence while managing rising energy costs and navigating the transition to clean power 2030. Drawing on the latest findings, this session will explore what major energy users should prioritise over the next three years – from managing cost and risk to understanding where greater demand flexibility could create value. Crucially, flexibility only works when the business case stacks up. We’ll look at where it can realistically work, the commercial and operational questions to ask, and how it fits within wider energy priorities. Ben Whitelam, Commercial Director, npower Business Solutions |
| 10.25 | How Procurement, Efficiency and Data Strategies Are Quietly Shaping Energy Costs Over the Next Decade The organisations that consistently manage energy costs well are rarely relying on procurement alone. This session looks at how leading businesses are combining buying strategy with efficiency, data and technology investment to manage volatility, reduce consumption and improve long-term returns. Using practical examples, it will explore where the strongest opportunities can sit beyond the supply contract itself. Dr. Camille Louhichi, Strategic Advisor, Energy & Sustainability Management; SE Advisory Services |
| 10.40 | The shocking savings hidden in your high voltage supplies With non-commodity costs on the rise, and transmission charges only shouldered by the non-domestic market, it’s time for businesses to take control and realise the significant cost savings hiding in their high voltage supplies. In this session, Stark explains how major energy users can challenge existing voltage assignments in the right way, to realise significant cost savings. Adam Pearce, Managing Director of Infrastructure, Stark |
| 10.55 | What Data Centres Can Teach Major Energy Users About Managing Energy Through 2030 As AI, digitalisation and electrification drive unprecedented growth in electricity demand, organisations across all sectors are facing new challenges around power availability, energy costs and decarbonisation. This session will explore how data centres, often at the forefront of these challenges, are adapting their energy strategies and what major energy users can learn from their approach. Ian Belfield, Director of Business Development, SSE Energy Solutions |
| 11.10 | Engage, Query and Learn An open mic session designed to challenge speakers on what delegates should act on, what assumptions they should test, and what risks they may be missing. Questions led by the Chair |