PRESS RELEASE : Energy Markets Financing Scheme opens today [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Treasury on 17 October 2022.

• The ‘Energy Markets Financing Scheme’ opens today to help support viable energy firms with major operations in the UK from the unprecedented volatility triggered by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
• These firms will be able to apply for government-backed guarantees to secure commercial financing and meet large margin calls from energy price volatility.
• Following a rigorous approval process, a 100% guarantee will be issued to commercial banks on additional lending for approved firms. The Government will only be liable if a firm defaults on their repayment.

Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to unprecedented volatility in wholesale energy markets. Over the past month, natural gas futures prices have been changing by more than 15% a day.

This backstop scheme will help firms facing temporary short-term financing problems.  The EMFS will allow commercial banks to provide larger credit lines to approved energy firms that are unable to meet extraordinary margin calls due to large moves in energy prices.

This vital intervention will help support wider confidence in the energy market and could help reduce the eventual cost of energy for businesses and consumers.

The scheme will be open to firms of good credit quality playing a significant role in UK energy markets, as generators, shippers or suppliers. They must currently operate in the UK energy market and must be, or have an entity which is, Ofgem-licensed. Firms will need to demonstrate they are facing large liquidity needs from margin calls when hedging their energy price risk. The EMFS is broadly similar to schemes launched in Germany, Finland and Sweden.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said:

“A resilient energy market is vital as we all grapple with the consequences of Putin’s horrifying invasion of Ukraine and his decision to weaponise Russia’s energy reserves.

“Today we are continuing to act to ensure the market itself is secure, significantly reducing any risk of market failure.”

Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, said:

“The volatility in energy markets we have seen in recent months, caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has resulted in a number of energy firms facing extraordinary liquidity requirements.

“This scheme will provide short-term financial support for these firms so they can weather this period, while also supporting the wider resilience of energy markets in the UK.”

From today, the Bank will screen initial applications for eligibility. HM Treasury will then robustly assess the credit risks and limits before giving final approval. The Bank will then issue a 100% guarantee to the energy firms’ existing commercial bank or banks they use for additional lending. Whilst using the scheme, energy firms will be required to comply with a set of policy conditions, such as restrictions on the use of funds, executive pay, and capital distributions.

Firms have three months to apply and once approved will be able to benefit from a guarantee for a further 12 months.

State owned firms and energy firms owned by financial institutions and commodity trading houses will not be eligible for the scheme.

The ‘Energy Markets Financing Scheme’ was announced on 8 September 2022 alongside the Energy Price Guarantee, with further details confirmed as part of the Government’s Growth Plan on 23 September 2022.